
Qass. 
Book- 



Four Months In Libby 

AND 

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST 
ATLANTA 



BY 
CAPT. I. N. JOHNSTON 

CO. H, SIXTH KENTUCKY VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 





^;^;f;?^:=;^;^?,-,:i 



FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY, 



iLND THB 



CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA, 



BT 



Capt. I. N. .TonisrsTON, 

CO. H, SIXTH KENTUCKY TOLUNTEKR INPXNTRT. 



CINCINNATI: 
PRINTED AT THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN, 

FOR THE AUTHOR. 

1893. 



jn,3 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, 
BY I TST. JOHNSTON, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern 
District of Ohio. 

Pgnil^ft Office L'br.^rv 

AlAB 2. 1933 



PEEFAOE. 



I MIGHT p]ead, with truth, '^the solicitations 
of friends^' as my apology for appearing in 
print ; but as mine is an unpracticed pen, the 
public, perhaps, may demand a better reason. 
Without any crime I have been an inmate of 
the foulest of Southern prisons, and a com- 
panion of the brave men whose condition and 
treatment has called forth the sympathy of 
the nation, and which will yet call forth the 
condemnation of the civilized world. I was 
one of the party that planned and executed 
one of the most remarkable escapes known 
to history — the record of which will be en- 
during as that of the war itself. The labors 
and perils of which I was a partaker will, I 
am well assured, give an interest to these 
pages which the charm of style can never im- 
part to a tale wanting in stirring incident. I 
write, then, simply because I have a story to 
tell, which many will take pleasure in hearing, 



4 PREFACE. 

and which, I doubt not, in after years will 
employ a more skillful pen than mine. 

Those with whom I have sat around the 
camp-fire, shared the weariness of the march, 
and the dangers of the battle, will like my 
story none the less for being plainly told; and 
my companions in Libby, and the partners of 
my flight, will think of other matters than brill- 
iant sentences and round periods, as they read 
these pages. I claim no leadership in the en- 
terprise of which I write — the time has not yet 
come to give honor to whom honor is due ; the 
reason of my silence in this respect will ap- 
pear in the course of my narrative. 

When I began these pages I had no inten- 
tion of carrying the reader beyond my escape 
from Libby. I have, however, been induced 
to add an account of Sherman's great campaign 
against Atlanta; and while this will, perhaps, 
have less interest for the general reader, it will 
possess more for those who were with me in 
that memorable march. My friends, I am sure, 
will be indulgent; may I express the hope that 
all others will have their sympathies too much 
aroused for our brave boys, still in prison, to 
be critical? I. N. Johnston. 



OOI^TEISTTS 



CHAPTER I. 

EXTERIXG THE SERYICE. 
Character of the age — My own experiences — Object of my 
book — Entering the service — Elected Captain — The 6th Ken- 
tucky—Its deeds Page 9 

CHAPTER n. 

SHILOn AND STOXE RIVER. 
My first battle, and how I felt — Wounded and left on the 
field — Disasters of first day and final triumph 21 

CHAPTER ni. 

CHICKAMAUGA. 
The battle — Am taken prisoner — Trip to Richmond — Inci- 
dents on the way — Star-Spangled Banner sung in Dixie — 
Kind treatment — Arrival at Richmond , 33 

CHAPTER IV. 

FAILURES. 
Richmond — The prison — Treatment of Prisoners — Plans of 
escape — Sad Failures — Prospect of success 46 



6 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE TUNNEL. 
A new plan adopted — Nature of the task — In the tunnel — 
Maj. M'Donald's adventure — My own disappearance — Given 
up as escaped — Fislar's story Page 65 

CHAPTER VI. 

CELLAR LIFE. 
My home and company — Great alarm — Still safe — The work 
renewed — Success — Last night in Libby — Words on leaving. 81 

CHAPTER YII. 

THE ESCAPE. 
The last night — Farewell to Libby — Sufferings and dan- 
gers — The North Star our guide — The faithful negro — A false 
friend — Almost retaken — The contrast 95 

CHAPTER VIII. 

UNDER THE FLAG AGAIN. 
In the swamp — Meeting our pickets — Warm welcome — Kind 
treatment — Interview with General Butler — Arrival at Wash- 
ington , 113 

CHAPTER IX. 

RETURN TO THE FRONT. 
Return home — How I spent my furlough — Join my regi- 
ment — Changes — Forward movement — ^Tunnel Hill — Rocky 
Face — Resaca 127 



CONTENTS. 7 

CHAPTER X. 

ON TO ATLANTA. 

Confidence in our leader — Tunnel Hill and Rocky Face 

Mountain — Pursuit of the enemy — Johnston's strategy — In 

command of my regiment — Battle near Dallas — Night on the 

battle-field— Reflections Page 142 

CHAPTER XI. 

MARCHING AND FIGHTING. 

Reminder to the reader — Sherman, Howard, and Thomas in 

council — The attack and repulse — The Sixth Kentucky in front 

again — In the trenches — Guarding train — Forward march. 155 

CHAPTER Xn. 

SHERMAN STILL FLANKING. 
Pine Mountain and death of Gen. Polk — Georgia scenery — 
Before Kenesaw — The unreturning brave — Marietta ours — 
Across the Chattahooche 167 

CHAPTER Xin. 

BEFORE ATLANTA. 

Intrenching all night — Gallant exploit of the First and 

Third Brigades — Atlanta in view — In the trenches before the 

city — The Sixth Kentucky ordered to Tennessee — Turning 

over my command — A parting word 180 



FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 



CHAPTER I. 

ENTERING THE SERVICE. 

Character of the age — My own experiences — Object of my 
book — Entering the service — Elected captain — The Cth Ken- 
tucky — Its deeds. 

I AM a soldier, a plain, blunt man ; hence, 
what I have to say will have the directness of 
a soldier's tale. The age in which we live is a 
heroic one ; boys who four years ago were 
at school or guiding the plow are now he- 
roes ; we have battle-fields enough for all 
time, and names on the page of history 
eclipsing those of the great captains of the 
past — names that the world will not willingly let 
die. Reason as we may, there is a ^,harm about 



to FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

the story of a great war that few are able to 
resist; grave scholars go into ecstasies over 
the tale of Troy ; and the youth, whose reading 
is confined to the old familv Bible, devours 
with avidity those portions which tell of the 
exploits of Samson or the triumphs of David; 
and it is the fearful conflicts wliich they de- 
scribe that give such interest to the Paradise 
Lost and Bunyan's Holy War. What boy's 
blood has not been stirred by the story of 
Bunker Hill, the exploits of a Marion, and the 
fall of Yorktown? What youth has not wept 
as he read the story of Warren's death, or the 
sadder story of the execution of Hale, the 
proud young martyr of liberty ? and in genera- 
tions to come the youth of this land, with burn- 
ing cheek and tearful eye, will read how Ells- 
worth fell, just as he had torn down the em- 
blem of treason ; and how the gallant young 
Dahlgren died, almost in sight of the sad cap- 
tives whom he desired to deliver. Who has 
not been thrilled with horror at the cruelties 



j:ktering the servicb. 11 

inflicted by the minions of the British King 
upon the colonists taken in arms for a cause 
the most noble, and consigned to the living 
grave of the prison-ship ? and yet these cruel- 
ties have been repeated, with even increased 
malignity, at Belle Isle and Libby Prison. 

I have experienced nearly all the fortunes 
of a soldier, and can therefore speak from my 
own personal observation. I have felt that ar- 
dent love of country which has taken so many 
from the peaceful pursuits of life to the tented 
field. I know something of the stern joy of 
battle, the rapture of victory ; I am familiar 
with the long, weary march, want of food, and 
thirst, which amounts to agony ; nay, I have 
been stretched almost lifeless on the battle- 
field, know something of the long, weary hours 
of slow recovery from painful wounds, and, 
harder than all, long months of sad, weary, 
and almost hopeless captivity, and the joy, too, 
of escape from what almost seemed a living 
tomb. And though young, wanting the large 



t^ FOUR MONTHS IN LtBBY. 

experience of some, and the culture of others, 
yet my plain, unadorned story, I feel well as- 
sured, will not be told in vain. 

I shall make no apology, then, for any liter- 
ary defects ; the work I propose is not one of 
art or imagination, but a record of facts ; and 
in whatever other respects it may fiil, it will, 
at least, have the merit of truth. Moreover, I 
write mainly for my companions in arms, my 
comrades by whose sides I have fought, and 
with whom I have suffered ; and if, in fighting 
over again our battles, rehearsing our common 
dangers, privations, toils, and triumphs, I can 
minister to their pleasure, my task will not be 
a useless one, and my httle book will long be 
a link to bind together hearts that danger 
has only endeared. 

Nor am I without hope that I shall be able 
to awaken an interest for the soldier in the 
minds of those who never have passed through 
scenes such as I describe. He who unselfishly 
bares his breast to the storm of battle, who 



ENTERING THE SERVICE. 13 

stands bet-^'een peaceful homes and danger, 
who suffers that others may be safe, certainly 
deserves well of his country ; and never have 
any soldiers established a better claim on the 
gratitude of their country than the soldiers of 
the Union. As a nation, we have honored the 
men who achieved our independence : we ought 
never to forget those who struck for home and 
native land, when all that the heart holds dear 
was imperiled, and the very life of the nation 
' threatened by armed traitors. 

If a man's acts are regarded as the expo- 
nents of his patriotism, mine, I feel assured, 
will not be questioned, and yet at the same 
time I feel at perfect liberty to honor kindness, 
truth, and magnanimity in a foe ; and wherever 
these are found, even in an enemy, I shall 
not be slow to acknowledge it. Having now, 
as I trust, established a good understanding 
between myself and readers, I shall proceed 
to cultivate still further their acquaintance 
by a free and unreserved statement of what- 



14 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

ever may seem to be of interest prior to my 
life in Libby. 

Like thousands of my fellow-soldiers, I am 
a farmer's son. The only college with which 
I have had any acquaintance is the old-fash- 
ioned log school-house ; and a few years ago 
I as little dreamed of being an author as I 
did of being a soldier; my only literary 
achievements heretofore have been sundry 
epistles to the fairer portion of creation, and 
in that department I am not able to declare 
positively that the pen is mightier than the 
sword, as I rather incline to the opinion that 
few things have more influence with that por- 
tion of humanity than soldierly bearing and a 
suit of Federal blue. And had I rested my 
claims to their favor upon authorship, I fear it 
would have proved but a broken reed. My 
military career, however, I have not found to 
be an impediment, and even an unsightly 
wound was not a deformity in the eyes of her 
who was dearest to me. 



ENTERING THE SERVICE. 15 

You will be disappointed, kind reader, if 
you expect from me a history of the causes of 
the war. I am not sufficiently skilled in the 
political history of the country for such an un- 
dertaking, and, indeed, there is no necessity 
for it, as it has already been done by far abler 
hands than mine. Still, in a contest like the 
present, every man should have reasons for his 
course, especially when that course involves 
personal danger and sacrifices the greatest a 
man can make — sacrifices which, if need re- 
quire, must not stop short of life itself. 

My own reasons are those of thousands of 
others, but they are not those of the mere poli- 
tician; they are the reasons of the man and 
the patriot who loves his country with an un- 
selfish love, and loves that country most, not 
in the days of peace and prosperity, but when 
the clouds are darkest and perils and trials 
beset her round. A milder, freer Government 
than ours the world never saw; we knew not 
that we had a Government, by any burdens 



16 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

that it imposed upon us ; it Tvas only by the 
constant flow of blessings we enjoyed that we 
were conscious of its existence. Our history, 
though short, was glorious ; our future full of 
the brightest promise, and the hopes of the 
toiling and oppressed millions of Europe were 
bound up in our success. 

Though not an adept in the theory of gov- 
ernment, I could not be blind to its practical 
workings ; though no politician, I could not be 
insensible of the manifold blessings which it se- 
cured. I remembered the wisdom of those men 
who gave shape to our institutions ; I remem- 
bered the price at which independence was 
purchased; I remembered that it was not with- 
out blood that those blessings were gained; 
and now that all that the wisdom of a Frank- 
lin, Hancock, and Adams had devised — all that 
for which a \Yashington had fought, for which 
Warren had bled, was in jeopardy, I felt that 
in such a cause, and for such a country, it 
would be sweet even to die. 



ENTERING THE SERVICE. 17 

No love of war and bloodshed led me to the 
field ; the charter of our independence was 
sealed with blood, the very blessings of civil 
and religious liberty which we enjoy I felt to 
be purchased by noble lives freely given ; and 
to preserve them for generations yet to come 
I felt to be worth as great a sacrifice. God 
grant that the effort may not be in vain ! God 
grant that the fierce struggle which has filled 
our land with weeping may be followed by all 
the blessings of a lasting peace ! 

Under the influence of the sentiments just 
expressed, no sooner was the flag of my coun- 
try insulted, and an attempt made by bold, 
bad men to pull down the fairest fabric ever 
devised by human wisdom and cemented by 
patriot blood, than I determined to do my ut- 
most to uphold the starry banner; and seeking 
no position save that of one of my country's de- 
fenders, I volunteered for three years. Nearly 
one hundred young men, mostly from my own 

locality — Henry county, Ky. — enrolled them- 
2 



18 rOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

selves at the same time, and became soldiers 
of the Union. We all had much around us to 
render life pleasant, and home dear; but the 
call of our country in her hour of need sounded 
in our ears, and we could not permit her to 
call in vain. After the organization of our 
regiment — the Sixth Kentucky Volunteer In- 
fantry — the young men from my part of the 
county selected me as their captain, and I have 
had the honor of commanding Company H, of 
the Sixth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, till the 
present time. I have been with that company 
in several of the bloodiest battles of the war, 
and in a number of severe skirmishes ; and 
having seen its members time and again under 
the enemy's fire, I take pleasure in saying that 
a better and braver band of men never shoul- 
dered muskets or faced a foe upon the battle- 
plain. Indeed, the Sixth Kentucky has a rec- 
ord of which it may well be proud; its steady 
endurance in resisting an attack, and its fiery 
valor when hurling its ranks on the foe, has 



ENTERING THE SERVICE. 19 

covered it with well-deserved renown. Shiloh, 
Stone River, and Mission Ridge have witnessed 
its prowess ; its ranks have been thinned in 
many a fierce and bloody assault, and of those 
who yet follow its flag to victory, and of those 
who fill a soldier's grave, it shall be said, they 
were heroes, every one. 

And yet it checks our exultation, brings 
tears to the eyes and sadness to the heart 
to think of the sad ravages that war has made 
in the ranks of those noble men. Where 
are they now? Some have met death on the 
field, and fill unmarked graves far, far from 
home ; others escaped death on the field to 
perish by slow, wasting disease in camp and 
hospital. Some, with mutilated limbs and 
features disfigured with ghastly wounds, have 
sought the rest, quiet, and sympathy of home; 
while others in rebel prisons drag out a 
wretched existence, feeling all the pain and 
heart-sickness of hope deferred. On earth many 
of them will meet no more; yet, when the 



.-0 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

survn'ors meet in the years which are to come, 
when the sounds of strife have ceased, they 
will speak in low tones of the cherished dead, 
and drop a tear to their memory, and remem- 
ber with pride that they themselves were on 
many a well-fought field with the Sixth Ken- 
tucky. 



SHILOH AND STONE RIVER. 21 



CHAPTER II. 

SHILOH AND STONE RIVER. 

My first battle, and how I felt — "Wounded and left on the 
field — Disasters of first day and final triumph — Return home — 
In the field again — Battle of Stone River — Wounded again — 
Appearance of the country. 

My first battle ! What a strange sensation 
it was when I knew that I must soon eno;ao;e 
in the deadly strife! The thoughts came thick 
and f\xst — thoughts of home, friends, and loved 
ones crowded upon me with a vividness and 
distinctness I had never known before. My 
past life came up in review, and the anxiety to 
know the result of the next few hours was 
painful. Should I fall on my first field, or 
should I escape? Should I share the joy of 
victory, or experience the sadness of defeat? be 
a prisoner in the hands of the foe, or, wounded, 



22 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

lie helpless among the slain and dying? make 
myself a name, or fill a nameless grave, were 
questions that would force themselves upon 
my attention. Fearful I was not, but excited, 
as every one doubtless is when about to enter 
for the first time the field of carnage and 
blood. 

I can imagine a young soldier gradually 
becoming accustomed to warfare by engaging 
at first in slight skirmishes at lono; rano;e, 
then in closer encounters, till he is, in a 
measure, prepared for a general engagement ; 
but my first battle was none of those, but one 
of the great conflicts of the war, in which 
thousands went in tyros in the art of war, 
and came out heroes, ever after confident 
and bold — it was the bloody field of Shiloh. 

It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to describe 
a battle ; one pair of eyes can see but little 
of a conflict ranging over miles of territory ; 
but there is something common to all battles 
which every brave man sees and hears, such 



SHILOH AND STONE RIYEIU 23 

as the shrieking of the shells, the blaze which 
accompanies the explosion, the whistling of 
minie balls, the clash and clang of steel, the 
roar of the artillery, the rattle of musketry, 
comrades falling, riderless steeds dashing hither 
and thither, the shout of officers, the hurrah of 
the charging line, the ghastly forms of the 
dead, the piteous cries of the wounded, the 
clouds of smoke pierced by the quick flashes 
of flame — with all these every true soldier is 
familiar. 

Our regiment was not in the battle the first 
day, but came up the following night, and 
found Gen. Grant, who had been hard pressed 
the preceding day, in grim silence awaiting the 
coming Hght to renew the contest. Early in 
the morning we were engaged, and the battle 
raged with great fury till the middle of the af- 
ternoon, when the enemy, after a stubborn re- 
sistance, were routed, and a shout of triumph 
went up from the victors who had changed 
threatened disaster into glorious success. 



24 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

In tliat shout of joy I took no part — nay, I 
heard it as if in a dream ; for about twelve or 
one o'clock a minie ball, striking me on the 
left cheek, passing through and coming out an 
inch behind and below the ear, laid me for a 
time unconscious on the field amid the dead and 
the dying. Reviving after awhile I slowly 
made my way to the rear amid a shower of 
leaden and iron hail. The loss in my company 
was one killed and fifteen or sixteen wounded, 
several of them mortally. This battle, as most 
readers are aware, began on Sunday, the 6th 
of April. Early in the morning the Confeder- 
ate forces, in greatly-superior numbers, under 
Generals A. S. Johnston and Beauregard, at- 
tacked Gen. Grant with great fury, the divis- 
ions of Sherman, M'Clernand, and Prentiss 
were driven back, and their respective camps 
fell into the hands of the enemy. They were 
stubbornly resisted, however, by Gen. Wallace's 
division, already weakened by having sent a 
brigade to assist in another portion of the field. 



SHILOn AND STONE RlVEK. 25 

These brave fellows nobly repulsed four diflfer- 
ent attacks made upon them, each time inflict- 
ing a heavy loss on the foe; but Avhen night 
fell much ground had been lost, and many a 
heart was anxious concerning the morrow. 
During the night, however, Buell came up, a 
heavy burden was removed from many minds; 
for those who had hitherto contemplated noth- 
ing more than a stubborn resistance now felt 
confident of victory. Nor were they disap- 
pointed; the arrival of new troops infused 
fresh vigor into those wearied with the des- 
perate struggle of the preceding day, and ere 
the sun had set the enemy had scattered be- 
fore their resistless advance, the lost ground 
was all recovered, the lost camps retaken, and 
the roads southward thronged with a fleeing 
foe. Johnston, the rebel commander-in-chief, 
was killed upon the field on the first day ; and 
though Beauregard claimed a complete victory 
on the 6th, and the rebel capital was wild 
with joy on the reception of his bulletin, he 



26 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

was compelled the next day to retire in dis- 
order and seek safety within his fortifications 
at Corinth. 

As soon as I was sufficiently recovered to 
be removed, I was sent home to Kentucky 
for treatment. I reached there faint and 
weary, was seized with typhoid fever, which, 
together with wounds, came very near termin- 
ating my life. My first battle, however, was 
not destined to be my last, and, by skillful 
treatment, careful nursing, and the interposi- 
tion of a kind Providence, I was finally re- 
stored. 

As soon as I was able I rejoined my com- 
pany ; was with it during Buell's march through 
Tennessee and Kentucky to Louisville ; bore 
its privations well; was in hearing of the 
battle of Perryville, but our regiment was 
not engaged. From Perryville we marched 
throuo;h Danville, skirmishino; with Bracrg's 
rear-guard; thence to Crab Orchard and Stan- 
ford; harassed him as far as London, Laurel 



SHILOH AND STONE RIVER. 27 

county — turned back, marched to Glasgow, 
thence to Nashville, where we arrived about 
the 1st of December, 1862. 

My first battle, as I have already stated, 
was under Grant and Buell, against Johnston 
and Beauregard ; my second was against Bragg 
at Stone River, under Rosecrans. Here, again, 
it was my fate or fortune to be wounded — this 
time in three places ; but none of my wounds 
were severe enough to make me leave the 
field. Both my arms were bruised by frag- 
ments of bombshells, another piece struck my 
pistol which hung by my side, tearing the stock 
to atoms and bending the iron nearly double. 
T was knocked down by the violence of the 
blow, and received a pretty severe wound 
in my side, and I have no doubt but the 
pistol saved my life. I had my blanket over 
my shoulders during the engagement, and at 
its close I found that four or five balls had 
passed through it, several bullets also had 
pierced my coat, and in looking at them I 



28 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

seemed to realize how near to death I had 
been, and felt devoutly thankful that I had es- 
caped the dangers of another fierce struggle. 
Soldiers look with pride at the flag, pierced by 
the bullets of the foe, which they have proudly 
borne through the din and smoke of battle, and 
in that feeling I have often partaken ; but I 
shall ever feel grateful to a kind Providence 
whenever I look at my bullet-pierced blanket 
and coat; and if I fall before the war closes, I 
wish no more fitting and honorable shroud than 
these will afford; if I survive, they shall be 
preserved as relics of that eventful day, as si- 
lent monitors to teach me thankfulness to Ilim 
whose hand protected me in the hour of 
danger. 

The battle of Stone River began on the 31st 
of December, 1862, and continued till the 
evening of the 2d of January. On the first 
day our left wing was driven back, and we lost 
about thirty pieces of artillery; but the attack 
of the enemy on our center was repelled with 



SHILOH AND STONE RIVER. 29 

fearful slaughter, being subjected to a terrible 
cross-fire of double-shotted canister from two 
batteries, and the day closed with the contest 
undecided. The next day the battle was re- 
newed, our line being restored to the position 
it had occupied on the morning of the previous 
day, but without any very decisive result, the 
spirit of our forces remaining unbroken. On 
the third day attempts were made by the enemy 
along our whole line, but it was not till about 
the middle of the afternoon, however, that the 
crisis of the battle came ; both sides were using 
their artillery with terrible effect; at last the 
line of the enemy began to give way; Gen. 
Davis was ordered to charge across the stream 
from which the battle takes its name; the Colo- 
nel of the 78th Pennsylvania, with his hat on 
the point of his sword, led the way with a hur- 
rah, a charge perfectly irresistible was made, 
the enemj^'s line was broken, the divisions of 
Beatty and Negley came up rapidly, our wliole 
line advanced and the day Avas won. 



i30 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

My wounds gave me some inconvenience for 
a few days ; but as I had been much more se- 
verely wounded before, I did not regard them 
much, having learned to look upon them as the 
necessary accompaniments of a soldier's life ; 
indeed, they were soon forgotten, and I was 
soon again ready for the duties of my position. 
It is truly wonderful with what facility man 
adapts himself to circumstances ; one would 
think that such constant exposure to danger 
and to death would beget great seriousness in 
every mind, and yet the reverse seems to be 
the case ; after having been under fire a few 
times, the soldier goes into battle with an alac- 
rity and cheerfulness that is astonishing; he 
becomes inured to the sight of wounds and 
death, and though his comrades fall on either 
side, and he has a sigh for them, he thinks not 
that he, like them, may fall. On the march, 
however, sad thoughts often come. 

The country between Murfreesboro and Nash- 
ville is a beautiful one, but the rude hand of 



SHILOH AXD STOXE RIYER. 31 

war has despoiled it of much of its loveliness. 
Fire is a necessity to the soldier, and no fuel is 
so ready to his hand as fence-rails, and wher- 
ever the army marches the fences rapidly dis- 
appear ; thousands upon thousands of fertile 
acres are thus left without any protection, beau- 
tiful shrubbery and choice fruit trees are ruined, 
every green thing is taken from the gardens, 
fowls and domestic animals are killed, and the 
country which lately bloomed like a garden 
becomes as desolate as a barren desert. Little 
mounds by the roadside tell that those dear to 
some hearts are buried there ; dead horses, 
broken wagons tell of the waste of war ; traces 
of fire and solitary chimney-stacks bring up 
images of homes once pleasant, and cause the 
wish and prayer for the return of peace. Sol- 
diers are sometimes thought to exao-Drerate the 
scenes through which they pass ; but let any 
one who has seen Tennessee in the days of its 
prosperity travel from Nashville to Chattanooga 
now, and he will confess that no pen can de 



32 FOUR MONTHS IN LLBBY. 

scribe, much less exaggerate, the scenes every- 
where presented to the eye. But a truce to 
moralizing. After the retreat of the foe the 
monotony of camp life began to be oppressive ; 
a desire for active operations, no matter by 
what dangers attended, became general, and in 
this feeling I confess I shared. The desired 
change came at length, and with it a disaster 
greater far than sickness or wounds — the suf- 
ferings of a long and painful captivity, such 
captivity as the dwellers in that synonym for 
all that is foul and loathsome — Libby Priso'> — 
alone have known. 



CHICKAMAUGA. ^8 



CHAPTER III. 

CHICKAMAUGA. 

The battle — Am taken prisoner — Trip to Richmond — Inci- 
dents on the way — Star-Spangled Banner sung in Dixie — Kind 
treatment — Arrival at Richmond. 

The battle of Chickamauga, one of the most 
stoutly contested of the war, may be said to 
have commenced on Friday, the 18th of Sep- 
tember, 1863; but the heaviest fighting took 
place on Saturday and Sunday. We were out- 
numbered, as is well known; but, by the per- 
sistent courage of Gen. Thomas and his brave 
associates, the enemy were foiled in their pur- 
pose — which was to retake Chattanooga — and 
the army saved from the disaster which at 
one time during the fight seemed inevitable. 
Bragg, it is true, claimed a glorious victory; 

but if battles are to be judged by their results* 
3 



84 POUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

his victory was a fruitless one, the prize which 
was at stake remaining in our hands. True, 
we lost many brave men, and much of the 
material of war ; but Chattanooga, the key 
of Georgia, was not wrested from our grasp ; 
the valor of the troops, too, was never more 
nobly illustrated; for the stout men under 
Thomas stood unshaken on Mission Ridge as 
the wave-washed rock, against which the hith- 
erto invincible legions of Longstreet, like 
fierce billows, madly dashed themselves, to 
fall back, like those broken billows, in foam 
and spray. 

Men fell upon that field whose names never 
will perish, and others, who still live, there 
gained immortal renown. There fell Lytle, the 
poet-hero; sweet was his lyre, and strong 
was his sword. There the modest yet brave 
Thomas displayed the qualities of a great gen- 
eral, firm and undismayed amid carnage and 
threatened disaster ; and there Garfield, the gal- 
lant and the good, won richly-deserved honor. 



CHICKAMAUGA. 35 

But to my own story. I had been unwell 
for several dtys, but the excitement of the 
conflict aroused and sustained me. Late on 
the evening of Saturday our brigade was or- 
dered to retreat, and, unable to keep up with 
the main body, I was overtaken and captured. 
I was taken in charge by two lieutenants and 
regret that I did not learn their names or 
command, as they treated me with marked 
kindness, as brave men ever treat a conquered 
foe. They saw, moreover, by my appearance, 
that I was quite ill, and this doubtless excited 
their sympathy. Soon another lieutenant came 
up ; he was a Georgian, and drunk ; he took 
away my sword-belt and haversack. Being 
cautioned by the others to take care of my 
watch, I slipped it down my back unobserved by 
my Georgia friend, and saved it for the time 
being. My captors conducted me about a mile 
and a half to the rear, and kept me there 
all night. We had to pass over the ground 
that had been fought over during the day; it 



86 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBT. 

was thickly strewed with the dead and wounded 
of both armies; their dead seemed to be in 
the proportion of three to our one. I saw 
Gen. Bragg for the first time at a distance. 
The night was intensely cold for the season, 
and I suffered severely, having lost my blanket ; 
moreover, I was exhausted from hunger, hav- 
ing eaten nothing for two days. I was for- 
tunate enough, however, to meet with a pris- 
oner of the 9th Indiana, who generously gave 
me a cup of coffee and a cracker, after which 
I felt greatly refreshed. This noble fellow 
also shared his scanty covering with me, and 
I trust he may ever find a friend as kind as 
he proved to me. By morning the number 
of prisoners was quite large, most of them 
nearly starved; the men guarding us were 
very kind, and said they would gladly give 
us food, but they were as destitute and as 
hungry as ourselves. To prove their sin- 
cerity they marched us to a sweet-potato 
patch, and all hands, prisoners and guards. 



CHICKAilAUGA. 31 

in army phrase, " pitched in.'^ We then made 
fires and roasted the potatoes, and often since 
have made a worse meal. We \vere then 
marched across the Chickamauga River to 
a white house, where we found another lot 
of prisoners collected; our names were taken, 
and every man was relieved of his hav- 
ersack; they were taken by a Texas cap- 
tain, who distributed them to his own men. 
This was Sunday, the 20th. About ten o'clock 
in the mornino; the battle commenced aofain, 
and we prisoners were ordered into rank and 
marched in the direction of Rinfrsold. After an 
hour's march we were halted till about two in 
the afternoon, during which time there was 
another squad of prisoners marched to the 
rear and added to our number. During all 
this time the battle was rao-ino; furiouslv, and 
as the sound of the fierce conflict came to our 
ears there was the greatest anxiety on the part 
of our guard as well as ourselves. I had 
heard that Eosecrans had been heavily reen- 



88 ^OTJR MONTHS IN LIBBt. 

forced, and believing it to be true, was sanguine 
of success. 

At two o'clock the captured ofiBcers, now num- 
bering about one hundred and fifty, were or- 
dered to fall in according to rank, non-com- 
missioned officers and privates to follow. In 
this order we marched, stopping a few min- 
utes to rest at the end of every hour, stimu- 
lated by the promise that we should draw ra- 
tions as soon as we reached Ringgold. On our 
way we met one of Longstreet's brigades hur- 
rying to the front; they were fine, soldierly- 
looking men, the very flower of the Confeder- 
ate army, better drilled and equipped than any 
Southern troops I had seen, either at Shiloh or 
Stone River; they were confident, too, from 
their successes in Virginia ; but they found their 
equals, at least, at Mission Ridge in the gal- 
lant men of the West. We reached Ringgold 
about nine o'clock at night, but failed to draw 
the promised rations, and were told if we would 
march four miles further we should come to the 



CHICKA:^IAUGA. S9 

camp of a brigade of Longstreet's men, whc 
were guarding a railroad station, and be sure 
to find the much-desired rations there. Many 
of us had been nearly worn out marching pre- 
vious to the battle, and had passed through one 
day's fight; nevertheless, so hungry were we, 
that we were glad to drag our weary hmbs 
four miles further, and in that distance wade 
the Chickamauga three times, in the hope of 
finding food, fire, and rest. 

"When within a short distance of the camp 
we were ordered to take rails from a fence to 
make fires to dry our clothes and make our- 
selves comfortable for the night. We were 
eager to avail ourselves of the liberty thus 
granted, and soon a column of men, about two 
thousand in number, each with from three to 
five rails on his shoulder, were marching on. 
About two o'clock in the morning, wet, dispirited, 
and weary, we reached camp, wincing some- 
what under the burden of our rails, which grew 
heavier every step. Again we were doomed 



40 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBt. 

to disappointment; we found nothing there to 
relieve our hunger; so we kindled our fires, 
stretched ourselves near them, and strove to 
forget the pangs of hunger and the bitterness 
of captivity in sleep. 

On the morning of the 21st we were marched 
to Tunnel Hill, a distance of five miles. We 
remained there till two P. M., in which interval 
the long-desired rations of corn meal and bacon 
were issued. We asked for time to bake our 
bread and divide the meat, and were assured 
that we should have the opportunity we desired. 
Men were detailed to bake the bread and cut 
up the bacon, and in imagination we saw the 
long-expected and welcome meal prepared; 
but scarcely were our fires lighted and the 
meat divided, before we were again ordered into 
ranks, and obliged to leave nearly all our un- 
cooked rations lying on the ground. To fam- 
ishing men this was a severe trial ; but orders 
were imperative, and with sad hearts we 
marched to the depot, where we found a train 



CHiCKAMAUGA. 41 

of cars awaiting our arrival. "We got on board 
and reached Kingston, where we remained till 
morning. Here we met a brigade of Long- 
street's men, who treated us with great kind- 
ness, many of them dividing their rations with 
us. 

The same day we moved forward to Atlanta, 
which place we reached at five, P. M. We found 
an immense crowd awaiting the arrival of the 
Yankees, and were stared at and criticised in a 
manner far from agreeable. Pity for our con- 
dition dvvelt in the hearts of some, but they 
were forced to restrain any expression of sym- 
pathy; while those who came to jeer, and 
laugh, and to show their mean exultation, grati- 
fied their feelings to the fullest extent. We 
were marched to a dirty hill-side a short dis- 
tance from the city, and surrounded by a strong 
guard. Our camp inclosed a spring in its lim- 
its, but had very little wood for fuel ; the ab- 
sence of this we felt keenly, as the nights were 
cold, and we without tents or blankets, and 



4^ FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

many of us having lost our overcoats, and thus 
left without any thing to protect us in our dis- 
mal quarters beneath the open sky. Some 
time after nightfall we received a small ration 
of bread and beef, the first which we had been 
permitted to cook and eat for four days, during 
which time we had subsisted on raw corn and 
elderberries, which Ave gathered at the different 
points at which we had stopped on our way 
from the battle-field. The oflBcers in charge of 
us said that the reason we were not sup- 
plied with food before, was, that they were 
nearly destitute themselves, which was doubt- 
less true, as our guards fared just as we 
did. 

We remained at our dirty and disagreeable 
camp till the afternoon of the next day, when 
we were removed to the barracks, where we 
were searched. Many citizens, both male and 
female, gratified their curiosity by calling to see 
us, doubtless expecting, from the reports they 
had heard, to see a race of beings far difi'er- 



CHICKAMAUGA. 4S 

ent from themselves. The next morning we 
were ordered to take the cars for Richmond. 
Previous to starting for the depot we had 
selected several stirring National songs, which 
we sung as we passed through the city. This 
demonstration attracted great attention ; win- 
dows were thrown up, doorways thronged, and 
soon even the streets crowded with citizens, 
who came rushing from every direction to 
hear those unusual strains. Many scowled 
upon us as we went singing by, while some 
smiled approvingly, as if delighted to hear 
once more the songs of the Union ; and for 
my own part the Star-Spangled Banner fell 
more sweetly upon my ear, though far down 
South, a prisoner and among the enemies of 
that flag, than ever before. Strange to say, 
we were not interrupted; and as the boys 
joined in the swelling chorus, with heads 
erect and hearts high beating, they seemed 
more like victors returning from glorious 
fields, than captives on their way to a gloomy 



44 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBt. 

prison, to be exchanged by many of them 
for an untimely grave — nay, not untimely; 
for those who perished there were no less 
heroes and martyrs than those who laid down 
their lives on the field of honor — not one of 
them has died in vain. 

Leaving Atlanta, we reached Augusta about 
twelve o'clock at night, and were marched to 
a church-yard, in which we camped till next 
morning. We were well treated by the citi- 
zens ; many of them visited us, and showed 
us such kindness during our stay, that we 
could not but conclude that many of them, 
at heart, were lovers of the Union still. 
Nor was this the only occasion, while pass- 
ing through the South, that we discovered 
strong symptoms of a Union sentiment among 
the people ; many have secretly cherished 
the sacred flame, and will yet welcome the 
army of the Union as their deliverers. Leav- 
ing Augusta, we crossed the Savannah River 
into South Carolina, passed through Raleigh, 



CHICKAMAUGA. 45 

Wei don, and Petersburg, and on the 29th 
of September, about seven o'clock in the even- 
ing, we reached the depot at Richmond, and 
were marched to our Libbj home. 



46 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 



CHAPTER IV. 

FAILURES. 

Richmond — The prison — Treatment of prisoners — Employ- 
ment — Plans of escape — Sad failures — Prospect of success. 

DuRlXG our trip from Chickamauga to Rich- 
mond the weather Avas clear and beautiful, but 
the ni<]^hts were cold, and manv of us, havinn; 
lost our blankets, suffered much ; for, in addi- 
tion to the want of our usual covering, we were 
hungry nearly^all the time. Many of the cities 
and towns through which we passed presented 
a pleasing appearance ; but the country, for the 
most part, had a desolate look; few men were 
to be seen, sav^e such as were too old for serv- 
ice, and the farming operations bore marks of 
neither care nor skill. 

The officer who had the prisoners in charge 



FAILURES. 47 

was kind and gentlemanly, and rendered our 
situation as agreeable as was possible under 
the circumstances ; that we suffered for food 
was no fault of his, and when we were turned 
over to the authorities at Richmond we parted 
from him with a feeling akin to regret. 

All the private soldiers were sent to Belle 
Isle, a place which has become infamous on ac- 
count of the cruel treatment to which thej 
were subjected; but the officers had quarters 
assigned them in Libby Prison. Before being 
shown to our apartments we were requested to 
give up our money and valuables, under the as 
Burance that they should be returned when we 
were exchanged; at the same time we were 
given to understand that we should be searched, 
and whatever was then found in our possession 
would be confiscated. Nearly all gave up what 
they had ; some secreted a portion, wliich was 
found to be clear gain, as those of us who 
escaped had not time to call for our money and 
watches before leaving for the Federal lines. 



48 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. - 

This now world-ftimous building presents 
none of the outward characteristics of a prison, 
having been used in peaceful days as a ware- 
house ; but none of the castles and dungeons 
of Europe, century old though they be, have a 
stranger or sadder history than this. There 
many a heart has been wrung, many a spirit 
broken, many a noble soul has there breathed 
out its last sigh, and hundreds who yet survive 
will shrink in their dreams, or shudder in their 
waking moments, when faithful memory brings 
back the scenes enacted within its fearful walls. 
The building is of brick, with a front of near 
one hundred and forty feet, and one hundred 
feet deep. It is divided into nine rooms ; the 
ceilings are low, and ventilation imperfect; the 
windows are barred, through which the wind- 
ings of James River and the tents of Belle 
Isle may be seen. Its immediate surroundings 
are far from being agreeable ; the sentinels 
pacing the streets constantly are unpleasant 
reminders that your stay is not a matter of 



FAILURES. 49 

choice ; and "were it so, few would choose it 
lon^ as a boar(lino;-house. 

In this building were crowded about one 
thousand oflBcers of nearly every grade, not one 
of whom was permitted to go out till exchanged 
or released by death. To men accustomed to 
an active life this mode of existence soon be- 
came exceedingly irksome, and innumerable 
methods were soon devised to make the hours 
pass less wearily. A penknife was made to do 
the duty of a complete set of tools, and it was 
marvelous to see the wonders achieved by that 
sin<T:le instrument. Bone-work of strano-e de- 
vice, and carving most elaborate, chess-men, 
spoons, pipes, all manner of articles, useful and 
ornamental, were fashioned by its aid alone. 
[f a man's early education had been neglected, 
ample opportunities were now afforded to be- 
come a proficient scholar. The higher branches 
of learning had their professor; the languages, 
ancient and modern, were taught; mathematics 

received much attention; morals and religion 

4 



66 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

were cared for in Bible classes, while the or- 
namental branches, such as dancing, vocal 
music, and sword exercise, had had their teach- 
ers and pupils. Indeed, few colleges in the 
land could boast of a faculty so large in num- 
ber or varied in accomplishments, and nonCj 
certainly, could compare in the number of 
pupils. 

But truth must be told; the minds of many 
of those grown-up, and, in some instances, 
gray-headed pupils, were not always with 
their books ; their minds, when children, wan- 
dered from the page before them to the green 
fields, to streams abounding in fish, or pleas- 
ant for bathing ; or to orchards, with fruit 
most inviting ; but now the mind wandered 
in one direction — home. Others were deeply en- 
gaged in the mysteries of " poker " and " seven- 
up," and betting ran high ; but they were 
bets involving neither loss or gain, and the win- 
ner of countless sums would often borrow a tea- 
spoon full of salt or a pinch of pepper. Games 



FAILURES. 51 

of cliess were played, which, judging from 
the wary and deliberate manner of the play- 
ers, and the interest displayed by lookers-on, 
were as intricate and important as a military 
campaign ; nor were the sports of children — 
jack-straws and mumble-peg — wanting; every 
device, serious and silly, was employed to 
hasten the slow hours along. But amid all 
these various occupations, there was one that 
took the precedence and absorbed all others — 
that was planning an escape. The exploits 
of Jack Sheppard, Boron Trenck, and the hero 
of Monte Cristo were seriously considered, 
and plans superior to theirs concocted, some 
of them characterized by skill and cunning, 
others by the energy of despair. 

One of these was as follows : After the ar- 
rival of the Chickamauga prisoners, a plot 
was made which embraced the escape of all 
confined in Libby, and the release of all the 
prisoners in and about Richmond. The leader 
in this enterprise was a man of cool purpose 



52 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

and great daring; and success, I doubt not, 
would have attended the effort had it not been 
that we had traitors in our midst who put 
the rebel authorities on the alert only a few 
days before the attempt was to have been 
made. 

Prisoners, it is true, have no right to ex- 
pect abundant and delicious fare ; but when 
the rations served out to rebel prisoners in 
our hands are compared Avith the stinted and 
disgusting allowance of Union prisoners in 
rebel hands, a truly-generous and chivalrous 
people Avould blush at the contrast. It is 
not sajnng too much to assert that many of 
the rebel prisoners, from the poorer portions 
of Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi, 
have, at least, as good fare, and as much of 
it, as they ever enjoyed at home, and much 
better than the army rations which they were 
accustomed to before capture ; while it is 
equally true that the Union prisoners have 
been compelled to subsist on a diet loath- 



FAILURES, 53 

some in quality, and in a quantity scarcely 
sufficient to support life. True, it may be 
urged that the scarcity of provisions in Rich- 
mond, and elsewhere, rendered it out of the 
question to remedy this to any great extent; 
but all candid men will decide that no army 
could be kept, in the physical condition of Gen. 
Lee's, upon a Libby ration ; and if such a 
miracle as that were possible, it would not 
justify the denial to prisoners of the Union 
army the provisions that the United States 
were ever ready to furnish their ow^n men 
while prisoners in an enemy's hands, much 
less the appropriation of the stores sent to 
those sufferers by benevolent associations and 
sympathizing friends. That vast quantities of 
food and clothing sent to our prisoners has 
been thus diverted from its object, is suscep- 
tible of the clearest proof. If it be asked, how 
can a people, professing to be civilized, act 
thus? the answer is simply, that the war, as 
far as the South is concerned, is a rebellion. 



54 FOUK MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

The Libby ration nominally consisted of about 
ten ounces of corn bread — of meal just as it 
came from the mill — beef, and rice ; but really 
less often than this ; for it often took two ra- 
tions of beef to make a single tolerable meal, 
and frequently we Avould fail to get any beef for 
from one to eight days ; at such times we 
would receive sweet or Irish potatoes ; and I 
state the case very mildly when I say the food 
was at all times insufficient. Of wood for cook- 
ing purposes we had a very small allowance; 
and during the Christmas holidays we had to 
burn our tables in attempting to make pala- 
table dishes out of very scanty and unpala- 
table materials. One thing, however, we did 
not lack ; the James River was near at hand, 
and we had plenty of water; it was brought by 
means of pipes into each room ; and had it 
possessed any very nutritious properties, we 
might have fattened. I must do the officers of 
the prison the justice to say, that as long as 
we did not violate the rules of the house, they 



FAILUEES. 55 

permitted us to enjoy ourselves in any way that 
suited our taste. Prayer meetings and debat- 
ing societies were tolerated, laughter and song 
in certain hours were not prohibited, and bad 
as our condition was, it might have been even 
worse. 

Our first plan of escape being thwarted, no 
time was lost in devising another, which, after 
many delays and interruptions of a very dis- 
couraging character, was finally crowned with 
success. Captain Hamilton, of the 12th Ken- 
tucky Cavalry, was the author of the plan, 
which he confided to Maj. Fitzsimmons, of the 
30th Indiana, Capt. Gallagher, of the 2d Ohio, 
and a third person, whose name it would not 
be prudent to mention, as he was recaptured. 
I greatly regret to pass him by with this brief 
allusion, as he had a very prominent part in 
the work from the beo^innino!:, and deserves far 
more credit than I have language to express. 
As this, however, is one of the most wonderful 
escapes on record, when its complete history is 



56 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

written he will not be forgotten. John Mor- 
gan's escape from the Ohio Penitentiary has 
been thought to have suggested our plan, and 
to have equaled it in ingenuity and risk. His 
difficulties, however, ended when he emerged 
from the tunnel by which he escaped, while 
ours may be said to have only begun when we 
reached the free air, and every step till we 
reached the Union lines was fraught with great 
danger. 

After Capt. Hamilton's plans had been in- 
trusted to and adopted by the gentlemen above 
named, a solemn pledge was taken to reveal 
them to none others, and at an early date in 
December, 1863, the work was begun. 

In order to a perfect understanding of it, a 
more minute description of the building is nec- 
essary. It is not far from one hurdred and 
forty feet by one hundred and ten, three sto- 
ries high, and divided into three departments 
by heavy brick walls. The divisions were oc- 
cupied as follows : The two upper east rooms 



FAILURES. 57 

by the Potomac officers, the two middle upper 
rooms by those captured at Chickamauga, the 
two west upper rooms by the officers of Col. 
Streight's and G-en. Milroy's command; the 
lower room of the east division was used as 
a hospital, the lo\s'er middle room for a cook 
and dining-room, and the lower west is di- 
vided into several apartments which were oc- 
cupied by the rebel officers in command. There 
is also a cellar under each of these divisions ; 
the east cellar was used for commissary stores, 
such as meal, turnips, fodder, and straw — the 
latter article was of vast benefit in effecting 
our escape. The rear and darker part of the 
middle cellar was cut up into cells, to which 
were consigned those of our number who were 
guilty of infractions of the rules of prison — 
dungeons dark and horrible beyond description. 
The portion of it in front was used as a work- 
shop, and the west cellar was used for cook- 
ing the rations of private soldiers who were 
confined in other buildings, and as quai'ters 



58 FOUR MONTHS IN LIB^Y. 

for some negro captives who were kept to do 
the drudgery of the prison. 

As the plan was to dig out, it became neces- 
sary to find a way into the east cellar, from 
which to begin our tunnel, which was accom- 
plished as follows. Near the north end of the 
dining-room w^as a fireplace, around which 
three laro;e cookino; stoves were arrano-ed. In 
this fireplace the work began. The bricks 
were skillfully taken out, and through this ap- 
erture a descent to the east cellar was effected. 
This part of the work was intrusted to Cap- 
tains Hamilton and Gallagher, who were both 
house-builders, and in their hands it was a per- 
fect success. The only tools used were pocket- 
knives; consequently their progress was slow, 
and fifteen nights elapsed before the place was 
reached where the tunnel was to begin. The 
stoves mentioned above aided greatly in the 
prosecution of the work, screening the opera- 
tors from observation. Immediately in front 
of them the prisoners had a dancing party 



FAILUKES. 50 

nearly, every night, and the light of their tallow 
candles made the stoves throw a dark shadow 
over the entrance to the newly-opened way to 
the cellar, and the mirth of the dancers 
dro^^Tled any slight noise that might be made 
by the working party. Considerable skill was 
necessary in order to reach the cellar after 
the opening was made ; and on one occasion 
one of the party stuck fast, and was released 
only by great efforts on the part of his asso- 
ciates. Poor fellow ! though fortunate enough 
to escape detection in this instance, and after- 
ward to reach the free air, he was recaptured 
and taken back to a confinement more intol- 
erable than before. 

The cellar being reached, a thorough exam- 
ination was made in order to decide upon a 
route which would be most favorable for our 
escape ; and it was determined to make an at- 
tempt in the rear of a cook-room which was 
in the south-east corner of the cellar. The 
plan was to dig down and pass under the 



60 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

foundation, then change the direction and -^ork 
parallel TN^ith the wall to a large sewer that 
passes down Canal-street, and from thence 
make our escape. The attempt was accord- 
ingly made; but it was soon discovered that 
the building rested upon ponderous oak tim- 
bers, below which they could not penetrate. 
Determined to succeed, they began the seem- 
ingly-hopeless task of cutting through these; 
pocket-knives and saws made out of case- 
knives Avere the only available tools ; and when 
this, after much hard labor, was effected, they 
were met by an unforeseen and still more se- 
rious difficulty. Water began to flow into the 
tunnel ; a depth below the level of the canal 
had been reached, and sadly they were com- 
pelled to abandon the undertaking. A second 
effort was made ; a tunnel was started in the 
rear of the cook-room mentioned above, in- 
tended to strike a small sewer which started 
from the south-east corner, and passing through 
the outer wall to the large sewer in front. 



FAILUIIES. 61 

Some sixteen or eighteen feet brought the tun- 
nel under a brick furnace, in which were built 
several large kettles used in making soup for 
prisoners. This partially caved in, and fear of 
discovery caused this route to be abandoned. 

With a determination to succeed, which no 
difficulty could weaken or disappointment over- 
come, another attempt, far more difficult than 
the preceding, was made. A portion of the 
stone floor of the cook-room was taken up, and 
the place supplied by a neatly-fitting board, 
which could be easily removed; and through 
this the working party descended every night. 
The plan was to escape by the sewer leading 
from the kitchen, but it was not laro;e enouo;h 
for a man to pass through; but as the route 
seemed preferable to any other, it was determ- 
ined to remove the plank with which it was 
lined ; and this out of the way, the tunnel or 
aperture would be sufficiently large. The old 
knives and saws were called for, and the work 
of removing the plank was continued for sev- 



%2 FOUR MOXTirS IN LIBBY. 

eral days with flattering success, till it was con- 
cluded that another hour's work would enable 
us to enter the large sewer in front, into which 
this led, and thus escape. So strong was the 
conviction that the work w^ould be completed 
in a little time, that all who knew the work was 
going on made preparation to escape on the 
night of the 26th of January. After working 
on the night of the 25th, two men were left 
down in the cellar to cover up all traces of 
the w^ork during the day, and as soon as it was 
dark to complete the work — to go into the 
large sewer, explore it, and have every thing 
ready by eight or nine o'clock, at which time 
the bricks would be removed from the hole 
leading into the cellar, which had to be placed 
carefully in their original position every night, 
from the beginning to the completion of the 
work. When the last brick was removed, a 
rope-ladder, which had been prepared for the 
occasion, was passed down and made fast 
to a bar of iron, placed across the front of 



FAILURES. 6eS 

the fireplace. Now came long moments of 
breathless silence and agonizing suspense, all 
waiting for the assurance from one of the 
men below that all was ready. He came at 
last; but, alas! his first whisper was, ''bad 
news, bad news ;" and bad news, indeed, it 
proved. It was found that the remaining por- 
tion of the plank to be removed was oak, two 
inches thick, and impossible to be removed by 
the tools which had heretofore been used; more- 
over, the water was rapidly finding its way 
into the tunnel, and all the labor expended had 
been in vain. The feelings of that little band 
who can describe ! — from hopes almost as bright 
as reality they were suddenly plunged into the 
depths of despair. 

Nearly all the work above mentioned was 
performed by Captains Hamilton and Gallagher, 
Maj. Fitzsimmons, and another officer. As a 
natural consequence, they were worn-out by 
excessive labor, anxiety, and loss of sleep, that 
being the thirty-ninth night of unremitting toil. 



64 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

They were, however, still unconquered in spirit, 
and declared that another attempt must be made 
as soon as they were suflBciently recruited to 
enter upon it. Noble fellows ! hard had they 
toiled for liberty, and it came at last. 



THJ5 TUNNEL, 66 



CHAPTER V. 



THE TUNNEL. 



A new plan adopted — Nature of the task — In the tunnel — 
Maj. M 'Donald's adventure — My own disappearance — Given 
up as escaped — Fislar*s story. 

While the party last named were resting, 
there were others not inactive. Capt. Clark, 
of the Seventy-Third Illinois, Maj. M'Donald, 
of the One Hundredth Ohio, Capt. Lucas, of 
the Fifth Kentucky, Lieut. Fislar, of the Sev- 
enth Indiana Battery, and myself, proposed to 
the originators of the plan of escape, that we 
would commence at some other point, and push 
on the work till they were sufficiently recruited 
to unite with us. This meeting with their ap- 
proval, on the following night Maj. M'Donald 
and Capt. Clark went down and commenced 
operations 



66 POUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

The plan was to begin a new tunnel in the 
cellar on the east side, near the north-east 
corner of the building. The first thing to be 
done was to make a hole through the brick 
wall, which they eflfected in one day and night. 
This was done by picking the cement from be- 
tween the bricks with a penknife, and then 
breaking them out with an old ax. This, of 
course, made considerable noise, and was calcu- 
lated to arrest the attention of the guards ; but 
it happened, providentially, as it seemed to us, 
that just at that time the authorities of the 
prison determined to place iron grates in all the 
windows, to render the escape of the Yankees im- 
possible. This was accompanied by great noise ; 
and while they were thus engaged our boys 
thumped away with a will, and made their way 
through the wall without exciting the least suspi- 
cion. The night after the breach was made, Lieut. 
Fislar and myself went down to work ; but hav- 
ing nothing but a small penknife, our progress 
was, of necessity, very slow. In spite of all 



THE TUNNEL. 67 

difficulties, however, we made an excavation of 
about two feet, and felt that we were that 
much nearer freedom. We remained in the 
cellar all the next day, and at night were re- 
lieved by two others; and thus the work was 
continued from night to night, till its com- 
pletion. One of our number remained in the 
cellar every day to remove all signs of the pre- 
vious night's work, and to replace the bricks 
in the cavity made in the wall, to avoid dis- 
covery, as some of the prison officials or labor- 
ers came into the cellar every day, either bring- 
ing in or taking out forage or commissary 
stores. 

I have been asked a thousand times how 
we contrived to hide such a quantity of earth 
as the digging of a tunnel of that size would 
dislodge. There was a large pile of straw 
stored in the cellar for hospital use; in this we 
made a wide and deep opening, extending to 
the ground ; in this the loose dirt was closely 
packed, and then nicely covered with straw. 



68 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

As the work progressed from night to night, 
and our hopes increased with the length of our 
tunnel, the number of laborers was increased, 
till the working party numbered fourteen. This 
was the more necessary, as the work of remov- 
ing the loose dirt increased with every foot we 
advanced. I have often been asked how we 
managed to get the dirt out of the tunnel, 
which was too narrow to permit a man to turn 
round in it. As the whole process was some- 
what novel, one in all probability never at- 
tempted before, I will describe it for the benefit 
of the readers. 

Our dirt car was a wooden spittoon, with 
holes through each end opposite each other, 
through which ropes were passed; one of these 
ropes was used by the one engaged in digging, 
to draw the empty spittoon from the entrance 
to the place where he was at work ; and when 
he had loosened earth enough to fill it, he gave 
a signal to the one at the mouth of the tunnel 
by jerking the rope, and he drew the loaded 



THE TUNNEL. 69 

box out, and the miner recovered it by pulling 
the rope attached to the end of the box nearest 
him ; thus it was kept traveling backward and 
forward till wagon-loads of earth were re- 
moved. After penetrating some distance the 
task became very painful ; it was impossible to 
breathe the air of the tunnel for many minutes 
together ; the miner, however, would dig as 
long as his strength would allow, or till his 
candle was extinguished by the foul air ; he 
would then make his way out, and another 
would take his place — a place narrow, dark, 
and damp, and more like a grave than any 
place can be short of a man's last narrow home. 
As the work approached completion the diffi- 
culty of breathing in the tunnel was greatly in- 
creased, and four persons were necessary to 
keep the work moving ; one would go in and 
dig awhile, then when he came out nearly ex- 
hausted another would enter and fill the spit- 
toon, a third would draw it to the mouth of the 
tunnel, a fourth would then empty the contents 



70 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBt. 

into a large box provided for the purpose, and 
when it was full, take it to the straw pile and 
carefully conceal it, as before stated. This 
labor, too, it must be remembered, was not 
only extremely difficult in itself, and especially 
so when the imperfect tools and means of re- 
moving the earth are taken into the account; 
but in addition to this was the constant anxiety 
lest the attempt we were making should be 
discovered. Moreover, the fact that all pre- 
vious attempts had failed was calculated at 
times to fill our minds with fears lest some un- 
foreseen obstacle should occur to prevent the 
success of our enterprise. On the other hand, 
however, the hard fare and confinement of our 
prison, the monotony of which had become un- 
endurable, and the possibility of escape at last 
roused us up to exertions almost superhuman. 
Under any other circumstances the work would 
have been deemed impossible ; but there are no 
impossibihties to men wHh liberty as the 
result of their labors. Before the work was 



THE TUNNEL* tl 

completed, those who had been engaged in the 
previous attempt had recovered from their ex- 
haustion, and were able to take part in this, 
which, in the end, proved successful. But what 
is to be most regretted is, that though all of 
them regained the liberty for which they so 
patiently toiled, one of them was recaptured — 
the one, too, who, of all others, the rest con- 
fidently believed would escape, if escape were in 
the power of man. What he has since suffered 
we can only conjecture; but the disappoint- 
ment must have been most sad to his great 
heart — to have gained the free air, and almost 
in sight of the flag of the Union — to be recap- 
tured and borne back to a captivity more hope- 
less than before. 

I have also been asked frequently since my 
escape, how it was possible for a man to be 
left down in the cellar every day without being 
discovered. Such a thing seems strange ; but 
the entire work was a marvelous one, and this 
was a necessary part of it ; and though the offi- 



72 FOtm MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

cers, or other persons employed about the 
prison, visited the cellar every day, yet for 
jSfty-one days one or another of our company 
was down there without being discovered. The 
duty of the one left there was to remove all 
traces of the work of the previous night, as 
soon as it became light enough to do so ; he 
would then conceal himself for the day in the 
straw, of which there was a large quantity 
there, and but for which our undertaking must 
have been discovered nearly as soon as begun- 
To account for the absence of those persons 
required some ingenuity, as two of our number 
were sometimes on duty at once in the cellar. 
This was managed as follows : the officers were 
drawn up in four ranks, and the clerk counted 
them from right to left ; one, two, or three, as 
the case might be, would change their places so 
as to be counted twice; the number being all 
right, the clerk was deceived. 

This, however, was suddenly brought to an 
end. Some of the officers had succeeded in 



THE TUNNEL. 7^ 

obtaining citizens' clothes, and passed the 
guards without suspicion and escaped; one or 
two also escaped by disguising themselves in 
the Confederate uniform. After this we were 
all collected into the two east rooms, and re- 
quired to answer to our names. 

About the time the change was made Major 
M'Donald and Lieut. M'Kee were on duty in 
the cellar, and failed to answer to their names; 
this caused quite a stir, and for some time it 
was thought that they had escaped by a trick 
similar to that of the others. The next day 
they w^ere reported by some one as being pres- 
ent — perhaps the clerk, who knew that the 
Major, particularly, would bear watching. The 
consequence was they were both called down 
to the office to render to Maj. Turner the 
reasons for their absence on the previous day. 
The Lieutenant, with an air of perfect inno- 
cence, stated that, feeling quite unwell, he 
had wrapped himself up in his blanket, had 
fallen asleep, did not hear the order for roll- 



¥4 t^OUK MONTHS IN LIBBt. 

call, and was overlooked. His excuse was 
deemed valid, and he was immediately sent back 
to his quarters. The Major was not so for- 
tunate; the fact is, he was regarded as a sus- 
picious character, and in consequence had a 
severer ordeal to pass. The question, "Major, 
your reason for non-attendance at roll-call yes- 
terday," was put quite laconically. Said he, 
" I happened to be in Col. Streight's room, 
and failed to get back in time." 

"In Col. Streight's room, indeed! How did 
you get in there, sir ?" 

That I may be understood better, it is nec- 
essary to state that some time previous some 
of the officers of Col. Streight's command had 
given much trouble to the authorities of the 
prison, by being in our room at roll-call ; and, 
in order to prevent a similar occurrence, had 
nailed up the door between the rooms occu- 
pied by the Chickamauga officers, and those 
captured with Col. Streight. The door had not 
been nailed up half an hour before some 



THE TUNNEL. ?5 

quick-witted fellow sawed the door completely 
in two below the lock, extracted the nails, 
placed some benches near the door so as to 
conceal the crack, and we were thus able to 
pass in and out at pleasure. The occupants 
of the other room took good care that the 
traces of the saw should be concealed on their 
side, and thus free intercourse was kept be- 
tween both rooms without being suspected. 

The Major, with great seeming candor, ex- 
plained the trick which accounted for his pres- 
ence in the forbidden room ; and the next 
question was, " How did it happen that the offi- 
cer of the day and the clerk did not see you 
there when they came in to see if that room 
was cleared before commencing to call the roll?" 
This would have been a poser to many — not so 
to the Major, who readily replied, that, being 
in the wrong room, not wishing to be found 
there, and being compelled to disclose the means 
by which he entered, he had climbed up on the 
plate or girder that passed through the room; 



16 POUR MONTHS IN LIBLY. 

" and when the search for me began," said he, 
'' I laid there close to the timber for ten hours, 
and would have melted, drop by drop, before 1 
would discover myself, and subject the officers 
in that room to censure, and cause all inter- 
course between the two rooms to be cut off." 

His questioners seemed rather to doubt his 
excuse, ingenious though it was; but as they 
were ignorant of the true state of the case, and 
he reaffirmed his story so positively, he was 
dismissed to his quarters with a reprimand and 
an admonition. 

The day after this occurred it was my turn 
to stand guard in the cellar. At quite an 
early hour the roll was called, and there being 
no one willing to run the risk of answering for 
me, my absence was discovered. There were 
several, it is true, who would willingly have 
answered for me, but they were so well known, 
and somewhat suspected, which would have 
rendered it dangerous to them, and of no benefit 
to me. The fact of my absence made it neces- 



THE TUNNEL. 77 

sary for the calling of the roll several tiraes in 
succession ; all the officers were kept in rank, 
confined in one room, till three o'clock in the 
afternoon, and diligent search ^rs made for me 
in every room in the building; and it vras 
finally concluded that I had made my escape. 
At night, when the working party came down, 
they informed me of what had taken place; and 
upon consultation it was thought best that I 
should remain down in the cellar till the tunnel 
was completed. To remain in this cold, dark, and 
loathsome place was most revolting to my feel- 
ings ; but the fear of being handcuffed and put 
in the dungeon if I returned to my room, and 
the hope of gaining my liberty shortly, induced 
me to stay. After agreeing to stay down, it 
was suggested that I might with safety go up 
to my quarters after lights were out, and sleep 
till four o'clock in the morning, and go down again 
when the working party came up. I did so ; 
but the first night I was seen, either by some 
traitor, or very careless prisoner, not acquainted 



78 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

with our secret, who stated at roll-call the 
next morning, that I was in the house, as 
he had seen me go to bed the night before — ^ 
which was really the case. The result was 
that the roll was called several times, and 
another careful search for me was instituted. 
Great excitement prevailed through the prison ; 
those of our own men who knew nothing 
of the plan of escape, and the place of my 
concealment, thought that I was hiding in 
some of the rooms, and thought it very 
wrong in me to do so ; they even said that 
I ought to come out of my hiding-place 
and give myself up, as they, though inno- 
cent, were suffering on my account. On the 
contrary, those Avho knew where I was de- 
clared that it was impossible that I could 
be in the building, after the strict search 
that had been made for me ; and as others 
were known to have made their escape re- 
cently, it was more than likely that I had 
done the same. 



THE TUNNEL. 79 

This was corroborated by Lieut. Fislar, 
who improvised a story to fit the case. He 
said that he was my messmate and sleeping- 
companion — which was true ; but that I had 
been missing from my usual place for some 
time, and he had no doubt but that I had 
escaped. He said, moreover, that two of 
my cousins were among our guards — that I 
had been courting their favor for some time, 
and that they had finally furnished me with a 
rebel uniform — that I had made a wooden 
sword, a tin scabbard, and a belt out of a 
piece of oil-cloth, and that they had eventually 
passed me out as a rebel officer. 

This story was taken up and so stoutly con- 
firmed by all who knew w^here I was, that 
the point was yielded by most of the op- 
posite view, though a few still contended 
that I must be in the prison still. 

All this was related to mc by the work- 
ing party when they came down at night, 
and I then resolved to make my appear- 



80 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY, 

ance at my quarters no more. This reso- 
lution I have kept faithfully. I never saTr 
my room again, and never desire to do so, 
unless it be as the bearer of fr^dom to those 
who are pining there stili. 



CELLAE LITE. 81 



CHAPTER VI. 

CELLAR LIFE. 

*' My home and company — Gr^at alarm — Still safe — The work 
renewed — Success — The last night in Libby — Words od 
leaving. 

The cellar was now my home. I was fed by 
my companions, ^'ho nightly brought me down 
a portion of their own scanty fare. Had I 
been discovered by the authorities of the prison 
it would have gone hard with me ; and knowing 
this, the greatest sympathy was manifested by 
my associates, who felt that this danger was in- 
curred not less for their advantage than my 
own. 

Every thing moved on as well as could be 

expected. I had plenty of company — little of 

it, however, agreeable, as it consisted of rebels, 

rats, and other vermin. With the former I had 

6 



82 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

no communication whatever; whenever they 
made their appearance I leaped quickly into a 
hole I had prepared in the straw, and pulled 
the hole in after me, or nearly so, at least, by 
drawing the straw over me so thickly that 
I could scarcely breathe. The rats gave me no 
annoyance, save w^hen making more noise than- 
usual, they startled me by making the impres- 
sion that my two-legged enemies were near; 
the remaining nuisance, which shall be name- 
less, was one which all prisoners will ever re- 
member with loathing, and from which there 
was neither respite nor escape. 

The night of the seventh of February came, 
and it was thought that our tunnel was long 
enough to reach the inside of a tobacco-shed 
on the opposite side of the street, under which 
it passed. We made our calculation in the fol- 
lowing manner : Captain Gallagher had ob- 
tained permission to go to a building across the 
street, where the boxes sent from the North to 
the prisoners were stored, to obtain some of the 



CELLAR LIFE. 8S 

perishable articles ; and while crossing the 
street he measured the distance, as accurately 
as possible, by stepping it both ways, and came 
to the conclusion that fifty-two or fifty-three feet 
would brino; us to the shed. On measurino; the 
tunnel it was found to be fifty-three feet long, 
and we fondly hoped that our labors were 
ended, with the exception of a few feet upward 
to the light. So confident were we that the 
work could be completed in an hour or two, 
that we had our rations already prepared in 
our haversacks, fully expecting to begin going 
out at nine o'clock — nay, we even went so far 
as to communicate the success of our plan to 
many who had not been partakers in the labor 
or the secret of the undertaking, but whom 
w^e invited to become the companions of our 
flight. When all were thus expectant, all 
thinking that the long-wished-for hour had 
come, Capt. Randall, of the Second Ohio, was 
appointed to open up the way to light and 
liberty. 



84 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

It was agreed that the mining party, T\ho 
had labored so faithfully, should go out first, 
and that our friends should follow ; and we 
stood anxiously awaiting the return of Capt. 
Randell, with the news that the way was open. 
There are times when minutes seem lengthened 
into hours — this was one of them. The sus- 
pense began to be painful ; it seemed as if 
we could hear the beatings of each other's 
hearts, as well as feel the throbbings of our 
own, and the unspoken question on every lip 
was, Will he succeed? At length he emerged 
from the tunnel, and, in answer to the ques- 
tion, ''What success?" in an excited tone and 
manner he replied, " All is lost !'^ We gathered 
round him, and when he became somewhat 
calmer he spoke as follows : '' I have made an 
opening, but a large stone which lay on the 
surface fell into the tunnel, making considerable 
noise ; the hole, too, was on the outside of the 
shed, and within a few feet of the sentinel who 
was on guard ; he heard the noise, and called 



CELLAR LIFE. 85 

the attention of the other sentinel to it ; the 
light from the hospital shone upon the side of 
the shed; I could see both the guards walking 
toward the spot; I have no doubt they have 
discovered the tunnel, and perhaps will soon 
be in here to arrest us/^ 

Imagine, if you can, our feelings ; our bright 
hopes so suddenly crushed, and every one in 
expectation that the guard would soon be upon 
us. Great excitement prevailed, yet no one 
was able to suggest how to act in this sudden 
and unexpected emergency. 

Amid all the excitement, however, incident 
to such an occasion, there was much sympathy 
felt in my behalf. I had been missing for some 
time, and was supposed to have made my es- 
cape ; to be discovered now, as seemed in- 
evitable, would be proof that I had much to do 
with the attempt to escape, and would subject 
me, at the very least, to the dungeon and hand- 
cuffs. In a few moments the cellar was nearly 
cleared, most of the party returning to their 



86 FOim MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

quarters in the different rooms above; but Maj. 
M'Donald and Capt. Hamilton remained with 
me, determined, if they could not aid me, at 
least to share the same fate. Noble, self-sac- 
rificing men ! their conduct proved that disin- 
terested friendship and high, chivalrous feeling 
have not jet departed. 

After all Avas quiet the Major determined to 
go up stairs and make Avhat discoveries he 
could. He soon returned, saying he had been 
up to the upper east room, from Avhich he 
could see the sentinels very distinctly; and, 
from all appearances, he concluded that they 
had not discovered the hole. I advised him to 
go into the tunnel and examine the breach, and 
stop it up if possible, as it was not at the 
right place to render our escape at all hkely, 
being outside of the shed instead of inside, as 
was intended, and within a few feet of the 
guard. If the hole could not be stopped, of 
course it exposed us to certain discovery in the 
morning; and I proposed to go in and enlarge 



CELLAR LIFE. 87 

it, and, great as was the risk, try to make my 
escape at all hazards ; for if I should fail, I 
would rather be caught in the attempt than 
wait to be found in the cellar or my quarters. 
When the Major returned he reported favor- 
ably, saying that the breach might be repaired. 
An old pair of pantaloons were procured and 
stuffed full of earth ; some dirt, too, was put 
on the outside of them, so that the cloth could 
not be seen, and thus excite suspicion. These 
were forced into the aperture, and earth pressed 
in beneath ; and he returned greatly elated 
with the hope that all danger was past, and 
that in one or two more nights our labors would 
be crowned with success. 

After a few minutes' consultation it was 
agreed that I should remain in the cellar till 
the next night. All the next day a close 
watch was kept, by some of our number in the 
east room, on the guards who were stationed 
near the place where our tunnel ended. There 
was no token, however, that any discovery had 



88 FOUR MONTHS LST LIBBY. 

been made, and the next nin-ht the mininor 
operations were resumed, and between two and 
three o'clock in the morning an opening was 
made to the free air, this time inside of the 
shed, at the very point we desired, at a distance 
of fifty-seven feet from the point of starting. 
The tunnel Avas about two feet wide by two feet 
and a half deep ; it was arched above ; and 
Lieut. Davy, who is a practical miner, declared 
that it was done in a workmanlike manner. 
We found a very hard, compact sand all the 
route ; the loose earth was disposed of as I 
have before stated, till within about ten feet of 
the end, when it w^as strewn along the entire 
length, thus reducing very considerably the size 
of the passage. Near the terminus it was 
rather a close fit for a large man, and when I 
was passing through I stuck fast, and had to 
call on Maj. Fitzsimmons to pull me out of a 
rery tight place. 

The principal tool used in this work was a 
chisel, which was found among some rubbish in 



CELLAR LIFE. 89 

the cellar, a handle for which was made from 
a piece of stove-wood. 

W^ien the surface was reached there was 
too little of the night remaining to effect our 
escape ; two of our number, however, passed 
out and explored the lot, and planned the course 
to be taken after emero-ino- from the tunnel. 
The shed in which our labors terminated fronted 
the canal ; between them was a brick building, 
through the center of which there was a passage 
into the lot, closed by a gate ; and the route 
fixed upon was through this passage. The 
question then arose, who shall go out first? 
Some thought that I was entitled to that 
honor, as I had been confined so long in the 
cellar, and had incurred more risk than the 
rest. Others thought that, though to go out 
first might be esteemed the post of honor, 
it was also the post of danger, as the first would 
run more risk than those who should follow. 
It was finally agreed that I should be the fifth 
to pass out, and that Lieut. Fislar should be my 



90 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

partner in flight. Then arose the question, 
how the aperture through the surface sliould be 
concealed till the next night ; for should any 
one go into the shed during the day, as was 
most probable, our plan might yet be frustrated. 
A piece of plank was found, and Capt. Ham- 
ilton dispatched with it to the outer end of the. 
tunnel, over which he placed it, being careful, 
however, to bury it just below the surface, and 
to cover it with dry earth. He soon returned, 
having successfully accomplished his task ; and 
all retired to their quarters, leaving me in the 
cellar to cover up all traces of their work — 
cheered by the thought that with night would 
come liberty. 

The ninth of February was a long day, and 
long to be remembered; never was my anxiety 
so great as for the setting of that day's sun ; 
and more than once during its long, dreary 
hours I feared that the cup of happiness, now 
so near our lips, would be rudely dashed away. 
Business often broudit those connected with 



CELLAR LIFE. 91 

the prison into the cellar, as it contained ar- 
ticles constantly needed ; but on that day it 
"v\'as visited much ofteiier than usual. One 
party brought a dog in ^ith them, and hissed 
him after the rats ; and in his search after 
them he passed over and around me, and every 
moment I expected to be drawn from my place 
of concealment; but I was too large game for 
him, and I escaped. Soon after a rebel ser- 
geant came in, with some negroes, after some 
empty barrels that were stowed in the back part 
of the cellar. In one of the barrels they found 
a haversack full of provisions, left there by one 
of our party the preceding night. This I 
thought would certainly awaken suspicion, and 
give rise to a strict search; the negroes, how- 
ever, took the food and ate it, without the ques- 
tion being raised how it came there. But the 
danger had not yet passed ; for, in carrying out 
the barrels, one of the negroes stepped over my 
feet, almost touchinf^: them. Nif^ht came at 
length, and never was sunlight hailed more 



92 FOUR MONTHS EN LIBBY. 

gladly than darkness, for it brought an end to 
our fears and captivity. 

The path to freedom is now open ; but par- 
don me, kind reader, if I delay a moment on 
the threshold, as it were, of a prison that I 
trust soon to leave forever, to look over the 
sad hours spent in its walls, and the methods 
taken by its inmates to make the hours seem 
less weary. Much of my own time, and that 
of my fellow-laborers, was so taken up with our 
project, that w^e suffered less than the great 
body of prisoners, whose time and thoughts 
were not thus occupied. To them the routine 
of prison life became intolerably oppressive, 
and every device was employed to pass away 
the long, long hours. Books and fragments of 
books w^ere eagerly devoured; newspapers were 
read till they would scarcely hold together. 
At times shouts of uproarious laughter would 
be heard; and a casual observer would have 
thought that a more careless, light-hearted band 
could not be found; but, alas! much of the 



CELLAR LITE. 93 

laughter rang above a sad heart; and. to those 
who knew the thoughts of those so outwardly 
gay. there T*as something in that laughter sad- 
der far than tears. Many were anxiously ex- 
ercised upon the questions, what shall we eat? 
what shall we drink ? and wherewithal shall 
we be clothed? but their solicitude never led 
them to a satisfactory conclusion. Others would 
go through the forms of fashionable life, and in- 
vitations to parties, and to dine, v/ere frequent ; 
but the rich viands and sparkling wines, like 
those of the banquet recorded in the Arabian 
Nights, existed only in the imagination of the 
guests. 

Wealth is only a relative term at last. He 
was well-oflF in Libby who had two pewter 
spoons, an extra tin cup or plate; rich who 
possessed a ham and a box of crackers — a mil- 
lionaire if, in addition to these, he had a pound 
or two of tobacco. The silver ware in our 
wealthiest mansions is never looked after as 
carefully as were the extra spoons, forks, or 



94 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

plates, which a man or mess claimed ; and when 
they disappeared, as they sometimes would, as 
much skill and craft would be employed to re- 
cover them as a corps of detectives would dis- 
play when a bank has been robbed, or a palace 
plundered. Many pined away with melancholy, 
and the history of the hearts which have been 
crushed would be a sad one ; many left us 
during my stay for the hospital — from thence 
it was not far to the grave. There were, how- 
ever, stout hearts which would not yield to dis- 
couragement — men who never for a moment 
yielded to despair ; they had faith in their 
Government, in the justice of the cause for 
which they were suffering, and, best of all, 
some of them had faith in God. 



THE ESCAPE. 95 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE ESCAPE. 

The last night — Farewell to Libhy — Sufferings and dan- 
gers — The north star our guide — The faithful negro — A false 
friend— Almost retaken — The contrast. 

It came at last — the last nio^ht, the nio-ht 
of release ; and the "working party was assem- 
bled in the cellar for the last time. There was 
a shade of sadness on many a brow ; for we 
were about to go forth two by two, to separate 
to meet again — when ? Perhaps never ! The 
party consisted of 

Col. Rose, YTth Pennsylvania Infantry. 
Maj. FiTZsniMoxs, 80th Indiana Infantry. 
Capt. Hamilton, 12th Kentucky Cavalry. 
Capt. Gallagher, 2d Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 
Capt. Clark, 79th Illinois Vol. Infantry. 
Capt. Lucas, 5th Kentucky Vol. Infantry. 
Maj. M'Donald, 100th Ohio Vol. Infantry. 



90 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

Capt. Randell, 2d Ohio Vol Infantry. 

Capt. I. N. Johnston, 6th Ky. VoL Infantry. 

Lieut. Fislar, 7th Indiana Battery. 

Lieut. Simpson, 10th Indiana Infantry. 

Lieut. Mitchell, 79th Illinois Infantry. 

Lieut. Davy, 77th Pennsylvania Infantry. 

Lieut. Sterling, 29th Indiana Infantry. 

Lieut. Foster, 30th Indiana Infantry. 
It was agreed that ten minutes should elapse 
after the first two passed out, before the second 
couple should start. Lieut. Fislar and myself 
were the third couple. After emerging from 
the tunnel we faced to the right, and passed 
across the lot to the passage through the brick 
building, already described, into the street ; and 
in doing ao we passed within forty feet of the 
sentinels. We were not observed, and you may 
be sure ^-^ did not linger, and soon we were out 
of sight of the hated place. 

One hundred and nine persons thus escaped 
from eight o'clock at night to three in the morn- 
ing, notwithstanding that the night was clear 
and beautiful, and all had to pass between two 



THE ESCAPE. 97 

gas lights ; of these, however, only about one 
half succeeded in reaching the Federal lines. 

As my comrade and myself were passing 
through the city, two ladies, who were standing 
at the gate of a house which stood back from 
the street, observed us ; one of them remarked 
to the other that we looked like Yankees. We 
did not stop to undemve them, and met with no 
further trouble till the city limits were passed. 
We then changed our course and traveled north- 
east, and soon came to the rebel camps, which 
stretched round a great portion of the city. 
We were excited, of course, and bewildered for 
the first hour, not knowing whether we were in 
the path of safety or danger. All at once I 
became perfectly composed, and told my com- 
rade to follow me and I would conduct him safe 
through. I then started due north, taking the 
north star for my guide, changing my course 
only when we came near any of the camps, suf- 
ficiently to avoid them. After traveling three 

or four miles ^ve saw another camp ahead, and 
7 



98 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

thinking that the camps possibly did not con- 
nect, we determined to attempt to pass between 
them. As we approached, however, we found 
out our mistake — the camps were connected by 
a chain of sentinels, and this chain must be 
passed before escape became even probable. 

We advanced cautiously, and when we 
reached a small ravine we could hear the sen- 
tinel, on his beat, on the other side. We saw 
his fire, too, which we, of course, avoided ; and 
at one time only a few small bushes were be- 
tween us and the guard; the wind, however, 
was blowing briskly, causing quite a rustling 
among the dry leaves, and we succeeded in get- 
ting by safely. We moved on rapidly, and soon 
came near the cavalry pickets ; these we passed 
without difficulty. After continuing our course 
north for some time, wo changed to north-east, 
and passed over four lines of the rebel defenses. 
It was our intention to strike the Chickahominy 
above the railroad bridge ; but, to our surprise, 
we struck the railroad on the Richmond side. 



THE ESCAPE. 99 

We then traveled down the road about a 
mile, and as day began to dawn we left the 
road a short distance to find a hiding-place, 
expecting that with the coming of light there 
would be a keen search made for us. The 
rebel fortifications were near; in front of them 
all the timber had been felled, and among this 
timber was our hiding-place the first day — all 
the safer, too, no doubt, for being within a few 
hundred yards of the rebel guns. The weather 
was excessively cold; we had walked during 
the nioi;ht over bad roads, throucrh mud and 
water, and our pantaloons were frozen stiff up 
to our knees. We did not dare to make a fire 
so near the rebel camp, for fear of discovery; 
but our suffering was greatly lessened by the 
thought that we were free. 

As soon as it was light enough to see, we 
made the rather unpleasant discovery that there 
was a picket-guard not more than one hundred 
and fifty yards from the place where we had 
taken refuge ; and soon two working parties 



100 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

came out from the fortifications, and began to 
cut cord-wood. These two parties, with the 
picket-guard, formed a triangle — the wood- 
choppers on each side, the guards in front; so 
that we were obliged, half frozen though we 
were, to lay very close to the ground till kind 
and merciful Night, who kindly lends her man- 
tle to escaped prisoners, should come. 

This, the first day of our escape, was a long 
one, full of anxiety and fears, lest, after all our 
toils, we should be retaken and subjected to a 
captivity far worse than we had experienced 
before. About sundown the working party 
withdrew, and soon after nightfall we resumed 
our journey, again toward the north star. We 
had scarcely got fairly started before our ears 
were saluted by the tramp of horses and the 
clank of sabers ; we immediately left the road 
and lay down behind some brushwood. It 
proved to be a scouting party, perhaps in pur- 
suit of us ; but we let them pass unchallenged. 
We continued our course till we reached the 



THE ESCAl'E. 101 

Chickahominy River; going up the stream a 
short distance we found a log across it, passed 
over and kept our course for several miles, 
then changed our course north-east, and trav- 
eled till nearly daylight. We camped for the 
day by the side of a swamp, under a large 
pine-tree, near the foot of ^Yhich was a thick 
cedar bush, whose shade we found most wel- 
come, as it afforded us concealment and shelter 
from the bleak Avind. The night had been very 
cold, and having crossed several swamps in our 
journey, our feet were wet, and our clothes 
frozen, as, indeed, was the case, day and 
night, till we reached the Union lines. During 
the night we were able to keep the blood in 
circulation by active exercise ; but being com- 
pelled to lie still during the day for fear o^ 
discovery, we came very near perishing from 
cold. That dav I thought our feet certainly 
would freeze ; and as necessity will often set 
the wits to work, I fell upon an expedient 
which doubtless saved us from such a disaster. 



102 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBV. 

Before leaving the prison I had taken the pre- 
caution to put on two shirts — one of them a 
woolen one; this I pulled off; and having 
taken off our shoes and socks, we lay down 
close together, and rolled our feet up in it, and 
found great relief. About noon some cows 
came around us ; and as the spot was a shel- 
tered one, they seemed inclined to remain. 
Fearing that some one would soon be in search 
of them, we got up and drove them away ; and 
very soon a woman came, evidently looking 
for them. We lay very close to the ground as 
long as she was in sight, and breathed more 
freely when she disappeared. A celebrated trav- 
eler says that he was invariably well treated by 
women in the various countries through which 
he traveled ; much as we regard the sex, we 
fear that it would be a dangerous experiment for 
an escaped prisoner to trust even the gentlest 
and fairest in rebeldom. 

On the night of the eleventh we traveled 
east, and crossed the railroad about half-past 



THE ESCAPE. 103 

eight o'clock; we also crossed the main road 
from Richmond to Williamsburg, and two or 
three other roads, all leading into the main road 
from the Chickahominy, and just before day 
went into a hiding-place near one of these 
roads. As soon as it was light we saw that our 
place of rest was not well chosen ; that scouts, 
or any one in pursuit of us, could come close 
upon us before we could see them ; we therefore 
sought another place, from which we could see 
to a considerable distance in every direction. 
We then pulled off our shoes and socks, and 
wrapped our feet up in the flannel shirt, as 
before, and endeavored to get a little sleep. 
It was so cold, however, that we could sleep 
but little, and then never both at once ; we were 
still in such danger that one would watch while 
the other rested. Sometimes in our night 
marches we would become so tired and sleepy 
that we would throw ourselves down on the 
ground and sleep a short time, till awakened by 
the excessive cold, and then rise and walk 



104 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBt. 

briskly till our chilled blood began to ino>e 
faster in its channels. 

We were careful to shun every thing in the 
shape of a man, whether black or white; but 
after traveling through swamps and thickets, on 
the fourth night we came to a path along which 
a negro man was passing ; we stopped him and 
asked a number of questions, and were con- 
vinced, from his answers, that he was a friend, 
and might be trusted. We then told him our 
condition, and asked him if he could give us 
something to eat. He said that he was not near 
home, or he would do so cheerfully ; but point- 
ing to a house in the distance, to which he said 
he was goir.g, assured us that friends lived there, 
and if we would go with him our wants should 
be supplied. He said the people who lived 
there w^ere Union folks, and that we need not 
fear; but we had suffered so much that we 
did not feel inclined to trust strangers; how- 
ever, I asked him to go to the house and see 
if any rebel soldiers were there. Tliis he did 



tilE ESCAPE. 10^ 

readily, and soon returned, telling us to come 
on, that the way was clear, and supper, such 
as they haa, would soon be prepared for us. 
I then asked him if he would stand guard while 
we went in, as I was still fearful of being 
retaken. He agreed to do so. We then 
entered the house, found a good fire, and some 
friendly faces ; and the inmates set about pre- 
paring supper for us with all speed. We hap- 
pened to have a little coffee with us, the very 
thing of which they seemed most in need. We 
added this to their store, and soon we had the 
first good meal we had taken for months before 
us, and a cheery cup of hot coffee, which made 
it seem a feast. After the meal was ended, 
being fully satisfied that the people were 
friends, and our black friend outside faithful, 
we rested awhile, which we certainly needed, 
if ever men did, and gave to our kind enter- 
tainers all that we could — our heart-felt thinks. 
When we were ready to start, the faithful 
negro sentinel, who had stood guard for us, 



106 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

oflFered to be our guide, and conducted us 
about four miles on our journey; he advised 
us to cross to the north side of the road, as we 
should meet with fewer swamps, and conse- 
quently make better progress. He added other 
directions which we found to be valuable, and 
we never shall forget the kindness of the 
warm heart which beat in that black man's 
breast. 

We then traveled on till daylight, and 
stopped, as usual, for the day ; but our clothes 
were so wet and frozen that we were obliged to 
travel on to keep from being perfectly be- 
numbed with cold. We had not traveled any 
in the daytime before, and began to think that 
we were out of danger; still, we kept a vigi- 
lant watch, but met with no interruption, and 
we gradually became bolder. About sundown 
we saw before us a negro chopping wood; and 
as he was directly in our line of march, and 
our adventure of the previous night had given 
us confidence in those having black skins, 



THE ESCAPE. 107 

we walked directly toward him, intending to 
inquire about the roads, the position of the 
rebel pickets, the movements of scouting par- 
ties, and other matters of interest. Judge 
of our surprise, however, when we came wdthin 
a few paces of him, to find a white man with 
him, seated at the foot of a tree! It was too 
late to change our course, as he evidently saw 
us ; so we went up to him and inquired how 
far it was to Barnesville, a small town w^e had 
passed a few miles back. He answered us civ- 
illy, and we asked several other questions, 
which he replied to satisfactorily. He gave us 
to understand, however, that he recognized us 
as Union soldiers. We told him that was not 
the case, but that we were Confederate scouts 
in disguise, and asked him if he had, during 
the past few days, seen any Yankees in that 
vicinity. He said that he had not, and insisted 
that we were Federal soldiers ourselves. At 
length I told him we were, and that we had es- 
caped from Libby Prison. He protested that 



108 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

he was glad to see us, had heard of the escape 
of the Libby prisoners, but did not credit it — 
but must believe it now, as he had the living 
witnesses before him. He talked freely with 
us, saying, among other things, that he was a 
citizen, and had taken no part whatever in the 
war, and even expressed the wish that we might 
make our escape. I told him that I expected, 
as soon as we were gone, that he would go to 
the nearest picket-post and inform his rebel 
friends what course Ave had taken. He de- 
clared that he had no such intention, and re- 
peated the wish that w^e might have a safe 
journey. I then asked him if he knew of any 
pickets near. He replied there were none 
nearer than Burnt Ordinary, which was some 
miles distant, and that he had not seen a Con- 
federate soldier for three weeks — in fact, that 
they seldom came in that direction. The truth 
was, as we soon discovered, there was a picket- 
post not more than half a mile from the place 
where we stood. This he well knew, and did his 



THE ESCAPE. 109 

utmost to betray us into their hands. He ad- 
vised us to follow a certain path, by doing 
which Le said we should avoid a swamp that 
it was difficult and dangerous to cross, and 
even went with us a short distance to see 
that we did not take the wrong path. I could 
not, however, resist the conviction that he was 
treacherous, and did all I could to impress him 
with a salutary fear, telling him that if he in- 
formed on us, there was a certain Gen. Butler, 
of whom he had doubtless heard, who had a 
way of finding such things out ; and if any 
thing happened to us he would doubtless send 
out a detachment that would destroy every thing 
that he had. If, however, he conducted him- 
self as a quiet, peaceable citizen, he and his 
property would be respected. He assured us 
that no 'harm should come to us through him, 
shook hands with us, and wished us again a 
safe journey. 

We had not gone over a hundred yards, 
vvhen happening to look back, I saw our 



110 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

friend traveling at a pace quite unnecessary 
for one so friendly, and the ^^•hole matter 
flashed on my mind. I turned to my com- 
rade and said, ''We are gone up; that scoun- 
drel, I feel certain, has gone to report us to 
the nearest picket-guard !" 

So well assured did I feel of his treachery, 
that I proposed that we should change our 
course from south to east, which we did im- 
mediately — and then almost too late. We had 
not pursued our new course more than half 
a mile when we heard voices of men talking 
in a low yet earnest tone ; we stopped and 
listened; it was even as I had suspected — the 
professed friend, from whom we had recently 
parted, had gone to the nearest pickets, in 
formed the rebels who we were, and how we 
might be intercepted; and the officer was now 
placing his men on the road near where we 
were expected to cross, and we were now 
within fifteen or twenty paces of them— they, 
aware of our coming, wary and watchful. It 



THE ESCAPE. Ill 

was a moment of fearful suspense; we were 
screened from view, however, by the bushes ; 
and our only chance was to change our 
course; we started, but the rustling of the 
dry leaves beneath our feet betrayed us, 
and we were sternly ordered to come out of 
the brush. "We hesitated, and the order was 
repeated in fierce, quick tones, which was 
accompanied by a volley of musketry. On 
this we came out at a double-quick, but in 
a direction opposite to that which we were 
thus rudely invited — in other words, we broke 
away and ran for life. With a shout our 
enemies joined in the pursuit, and pressed us 
so closely that I was obliged to throw away 
my overcoat, and Lieut. Fislar lost his cap. 
On came our pursuers, nearer and nearer, 
till, at length, in order to save ourselves, 
we had to take refuge in a large swamp. 
Orders were given to surround it, and we 
could hear men on every side calling to each 
other, and giving direction how to prevent 



112 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

our escape — and all this when liberty was 
almost in our grasp ; for we were then but 
three miles from the Federal lines. 

While thus lying concealed in the swamp 
our reflections were not of the most agree- 
able character. We had almost reached the 
reward of much toil and suffering ; we had 
even begun to think and talk of home and 
the loved ones there; and now, by the base- 
ness of one of our fellow-beings, to lose the 
prize almost in our grasp, was too painful a 
thought to be calmly endured. We contrasted 
the duphcity — nay, almost perjury, of the civil- 
ized white man who had betrayed us into the 
power of our enemies, with the fidelity of the 
African slave who had proved so kind and 
true, and felt that under the dark skin beat the 
nobler heart. The one, of our own race, in 
violation of promises the most solemn, would 
have given us back to a fate worse than death; 
the other, of another and despised race, did all 
in his power to restore us to freedom and home 



UNDER THE FLAG AGAIN. 113 



CHAPTER VIII. 

UNDER THE FLAG AGAIN. 

In the swamp — Meeting our pickets — Warm welcome— Aid 
to the fugitives — Kind treatment — Interview with Gen. But- 
ler — Arrival at Washington. 

Thus encircled by our enemies, our only 
hope of escape lay in crossing the swamp in 
front of us, which was a most perilous under- 
taking, as all ^Yho have any acquaintance with 
the swamps of the Chickahominy well know. 
The remembrance of the prison we had left, 
and the fear of one even worse if retaken, 
urged us on ; and, after many diflBculties, our 
efforts were at last successful. We attempted 
to cross four or five times before we -^'ere able 
to do so, and more than once we were ready 
to despair. In one of our attempts I stepped 
from a loo; and went down into mud waist- 



114 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

deep ; every motion I made only served to carry 
me down still lower ; but my true friend Fislar 
was at hand, and saved me from a horrible 
fate. He came to the end of the log, and I 
roused every energy and threw myself toward 
him ; he was just able to reach my hand, 
which was eagerly stretched out to him, and 
he drew me exhausted from the mire. 

Never can I forget that kind, generous 
friend — a truer man to country and friends 
does not live; the trials through which we 
passed only served to develop his noble nature, 
and he will ever seem dear as a brother to me. 
He is a noble specimen of a man, physically ; 
has dark hair, brown eyes, and light complex- 
ion — is six feet high, well-proportioned, and has 
an agreeable face — is possessed of fine natural 
abilities, is twenty-three years of age, brave, 
active, and daring, ready for any emergency — 
and, to crown all, has as noble a heart as evei 
beat in human breast ; and, for friend and com- 
panion, at home or abroad, in prosperity oi 



UNDER THE FLAG AGAIN. 115 

adversity, there is no one that I have ever 
known that I would prefer to him. 

After I was thus rescued we sat down 
awhile to rest; and when somewhat refreshed 
made another attempt to cross. We found a 
place where a number of dead trees stood in 
the swamp, from which the branches had fallen; 
and by jumping from one to the other of these, 
and occasionally slipping into mud knee-deep, 
we reached the middle of the swamp ; and in 
looking both before and behind us, it really 
seemed as if we were the first human beings 
who had ever penetrated to that dismal and 
solitary place. A stream, narrow, dark, and 
deep, now lay before us, and checked further 
progress ; but the kind Providence which had 
aided us on so many occasions did not desert 
us now ; for we found near the spot a slab that 
had been washed down from a saw-mill, which 
afforded us the means of crossing, and we were 
soon safely on the other side. Now that we 
were over the stream, a large portion of 



116 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

swamp had still to be traversed ; but we felt 
that every step brought us nearer to friends 
and safety, so we plodded on cheerfully, and 
late at night struck the high ground on the 
other side. 

Being exhausted by our journey through a 
swamp, which would have been deemed impass- 
able had we not been urged on by hopes before 
and fears behind, we stopped for a time to 
gather strength for new efforts, hoping before 
sunrise to be beyond the reach of successful 
pursuit. Again we began our march, and near 
midnight we saw the picket-fires near Burnt 
Ordinary, but supposed them to be those of 
the rebels, as we had been told by the man 
who had betrayed us, that the rebels had a 
picket-guard at that place, which was true ; 
but that evening, before we reached there, the 
Union cavalry had driven them away, and the 
fires we saw were those of our own pickets. 
Our narrow escape had rendered us very cau- 
tious ; and having every reason to believe that 



UNDER THE FLAG AGAIN. 117 

the fires in sight -^ere those of the enemy, v^^e 
passed around them at what we thought a safe 
distance, and then struck out for Williamsburg, 
then, as we afterward learned, about twelve 
miles distant. "We had not gone far before we 
were halted. Inquiring of the sentinel who he 
was, and where we were, he informed us th.it 
he belorged to the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cav- 
alry, which was under Gen. Butler's command. 
As we had tried to play Confederate ourselves, 
we were not certain but that this might be one 
of them trying to play Yankee. Afcer ques- 
tionino; him very closely, and being; fully satis- 
fied that he was " all ria^ht," we advanced. 
When we got up to him he told us that he and 
his comrades had been sent out on that ad- 
vanced post in order to meet and aid prisoners 
who were said to have escaped from Libby 
Prison; and, added he, '• I guess you are some 
of them." We told bim we were, and he ex- 
pressed great pleasure at meeting with u.«, and 
we felt what words never can express — a joy 



118 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

which can never be felt save by those who, 
'after privations and anxieties like ours, feel that 
they are safe at last. 

The sentinel then conducted us to the re- 
serve-post, where we were warmly greeted, 
every one proffering aid in one way or another. 
After warming ourselves at the camp-fire, the 
officer in command, seeing our need of food 
and rest, proposed to send us on to the camp ; 
and asked his men if any of them would fur- 
nish us with horses. " You can have mine ! 
you can have mine!'' was heard on every side, 
all seeming eager to help us ; and soon we were 
well mounted, and on our way to the main body. 
We were conducted to Capt. Akerly's quarters, 
who gave us a hearty welcome ; and though it 
was now after midnight, he soon had a good 
supper, with the luxurious addition of a cup of 
hot coff*ee, prepared for us, and congratulations 
on our good fortune poured in on all sides. 
After giving him a brief account of our trials, 
we informed him that it was reported through 



UNDER THE FLAG AGAIN. 119 

the country that the Federal pickets were ad- 
vanced as far as Barnsville, which we now had 
learned was not the case ; and we feared that 
some of our friends who had escaped might, on 
hearing this, venture in there and be recaptured. 
The Captain told us that he was about sending 
a company in that direction just before we got 
in — that they were now preparing to start, 
and he would have them keep a sharp look- 
out for our friends. Just then Lieut. Palmer 
reported to the Captain for orders, saying that 
the detachment was ready to move. The Cap- 
tain put in his possession all that he had 
just learned from us ; and he was about leav- 
ing, when my comrade, Lieut. Fislar, sprang 
up, asked to be furnished with a horse and 
saber, and to be permitted to accompany him in 
search of our companions, who were still sub- 
jected to the dangers which we had so nar- 
rowly escaped. His request was granted, and 
he was soon in the saddle and away. 

This act was characteristic of the man: 



120 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

and when it is remembered that he had been 
on the march near thirty hours, had just been 
hunted by the rebels like a pack of hounds in 
full cry, had just crossed a swamp which most 
men would have deemed madness to attempt, it 
must be regarded as noble and chivah'ous in 
the highest degree. Most men, under similar 
circumstances, would eagerly have embraced 
the opportunity offered and needed for rest; 
but with a most unselfish devotion he forgot 
past dangers and present Aveariness, in his great 
desire for the safety of those, his former com- 
panions, who, cold, hungry, and half clad, were 
struggling still through forests and swamps to 
freedom. 

The next morning, having been furnished 
wdth horse, sword, and pistol, I moved forward 
with the column, which was composed of picked 
men from three companies of the Eleventh Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry. My position was in front 
with the Captain — every man with eager ey^^s 
on the look-out for the late inmates of Libby. 



tJ^^)EIl TEE FLAG AGAIN. 121 

We had not advanced more than two miles be- 
fore Vie saw two men emerge from a thicket 
and regard us anxiously ; they ^yere imme- 
diately recognized as escaped prisoners; but 0, 
what emotions filled my heart when I saw and 
knew the well-known forms and faces of Maj. 
Fitzsimmons and Capt. Gallagher, of the old 
working party — companions in suffering, and 
soon to be partakers of joy such as mine ! 
Spurring my horse in advance of the rest, and 
swinging my hat and cheering as I went, I 
hastened to meet my old companions — and 
seldom is so much joy pressed into a few brief 
moments as was ours when we met ; we wept, 
we laughed, we shouted aloud in our joy, and 
warmer, gladder greetings will never be ex- 
changed till we meet in the land where there 
are no partings. Our men came up and wel- 
comed the fugitives warmly — not a man in the 
band who was not willing to dismount and let 
the wearied ones ride ; and together we rode in 
search of others whom we doubted not were 



122 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

near ; and during the day eleven more were 
added to our number — each one of them in- 
creasing our joy. I have known hours in my 
captivity when I have almost lost faith in man; 
but that day my faith in humanity was re- 
stored. To see those poor, hunted, suffering, 
wearied ones treated with all the tenderness 
and affection of brothers, by men whom they 
had never met till that hour, was sufficient to 
convince the most skeptical that earth yet 
abounds in warm, unselfish hearts. As we rode 
along we talked of our past trials, and the dan- 
gers we had passed since the night we parted 
in the cellar of Libby Prison, and speculated 
concerning the fate of others, whom we trusted 
would be as fortunate as ourselves, and to 
whom we would have borne aid, could we but 
have found them, at the risk of life itself. 

During the day we had several skirmishes 
with the rebel scouts, and captured a few 
horses and accouterments, and returned the 
same evening to Williamsburg, when another 



UKDKR THE FLAG AGAIN. 123 

detachment was sent out on a mission similar 
to that in which we had been engaged; and I 
need not say they bore with them our warmest 
wishes for their success. 

With regard to the officers and men of the 
Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, I can say, with 
truth, that they are the most daring, energetic, 
and enterprising men that I have met with since 
I have been in the service — the bravest of the 
brave ; and the work which they fail in will be 
left undone. But this is not their highest 
praise — since I left my mother's care I have 
never felt so much like a baby as I have since 
I fell into their hands ; nothing that could min- 
ister to the comfort of myself and comrades 
was left undone ; they are as kind and tender 
as they are brave and true. God bless them, 
every one ! The sutler of the regiment is 
worthy of special mention. AYhen we reached 
our lines we wore nearly all destitute of shoes 
and socks, and some even of other articles of 
clothing. Whatever we needed he readily fur- 



124 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

nished, and refused to receive any thing at 
our hands in return ; but he can not refuse, 
I am sure, the heart-felt gratitude ^vhich will 
spring up in every one of our breasts at the 
recollection of the kindness shown by George 
M'Alpine. 

During our stay at Williamsburg most of 
us remained ^\iih the Eleventh Pennsylvania — 
a few, however, were with the First New 
York Mounted Rifles ; and they really seemed 
to strive to see which could treat us best. 
Our party had now increased to twenty- 
six — every new arrival was loudl}" and warmly 
greeted ; the adventures of many of them 
were strange and stirring. May they live to 
tell their wondering grandchildren the story 
of their sufferings in Libb}^, and their mar- 
velous escape ! 

We were all furnished with transportation 
to Yorktown. From thence we went by boat 
to Fortress Moni'oe, and were conducted by 
Gen. Wistar to head- quarters, and introduced 



UXDER THE FLAG AGAIN. 125 

to Gen. Butler, who expressed the greatest 
pleasure at our escape, and only regretted 
that some of our number had again fallen 
into the hands of the enemy, ^\e had, of 
course, to go over the story of our treat- 
ment -^'hile in the hands of the rebels, and 
our perils on the vray to the Union lines ; 
and were made to feel the contrast by the at- 
tention bestowed upon us. Every heart seemed 
full of sympathy, and every tongue had a 
kind word. For ourselves, words were pow- 
erless to express the gratitude we felt for 
such constant kindness. The General ordered 
dinner to be prepared for our entire party, 
and authorized us to draw upon his quarter- 
master for any thing we needed; every wish 
seemed to be anticipated, every desire grati- 
fied — save one, the earnest lono^incr for home. 

' CO 

Even this was soon granted, by furnishing 
us transportation to Washington ; from which 
place we started to our various homes ; and 
0, how glad was our welcome ! Many had 



126 FOUR MONTHS IN LIBBY. 

mourned us as dead, and our return was like 
the grave giving up those it had once claimed 
as its own ; and we were unutterably glad to be 
under the old flag and at home once more. 



RETURN TO THE FRONT. 127 



CHAPTER IX. 

RETURN TO THE FRONT. 

Return home — How I spent my furlough — Join my regi- 
ment — Changes — Forward movement — Tunnel Hill — Rocky 
Face — Resaca. 

With the preceding chapter it was intended 
that my story should end; but in the judg- 
ment of others^ whose opinions it would be 
improper to disregard, it was thought best that 
I should add a short sketch of Sherman's cele- 
brated campaign, which resulted in the capture 
of Atlanta. The part taken by my regiment 
in this, one of the most arduous and successful 
enterprises of the war, is worthy of remem- 
brance, and will be of no less interest to my 
brave companions in arms than the scenes al- 
ready described; and being in actual command 
of the remnant of tliat noble band of men 



i'^S CAMPAiaX AGAINST ATLANTA. 

known as the Sixth Kentucky, whose deeds of 
daring in that memorable march should never 
be forgotten, my position gave me ample op- 
portunity to know how uncomplainingly they 
bore the fatigue and privations of the march; 
how firmly they held the post of honor and 
danger; how gallantly they charged the foe, 
and how nobly they fell. 

It is a sad thought, that many who entered 
the service with me in this regiment three 
years ago, will never read these lines ; for they 
are sleeping in quiet, nameless graves, over 
which loved ones will never come to weep ; 
their deeds and generous self-devotion to their 
country in her hour of peril shall never be for- 
gotten ; and sorrowing friends will take a mel- 
ancholy ] leasure, as they read these pages, in 
remembering that those whom they shall see on 
earth no more were not victims in a useless and 
wicked struggle, but martyrs, rather, in a 
cause for which it is glorious to die. 

To resume, then, the thread of my narrative. 



RETURN TO THE FRONT. 129 

On reaching Washington our party was ex- 
tremely anxious to visit their homes before 
again entering active service; and in order to 
do this furloughs and back pay were necessary. 
There was such a pressure of business at the 
War Office that we found great difficulty in 
having our wishes gratified in the particulars 
above named. At length, however, we found 
in Mr. Montfort, agent from Indiana to attend 
to the interests of the soldiers of that State, a 
friend whose sympathies were not bounded by 
the Ohio River, but one who was ever ready to 
aid all who wore the uniform of our common 
country. Our recent escape, and the dangers 
we had passed, enlisted his liveliest regard; 
and being familiar with the forms of business, 
he soon procured for us the desired furloughs, 
and the not less necessary pay. Nor did we 
confine our gratitude to empty expressions 
alone ; before leaving for our homes Ave pre- 
sented him with a very handsome testimonial 
in the shape of a beautiful cane, with gold head 



130 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

and appropriate inscription ; and we feel greatly 
his debtors still, and trust that when declining 
years shall render necessary the staff to support 
his feeble steps, that his mind may be con- 
soled by the reflection that his unselfish exer- 
tions on our behalf are gratefully cherished. 

Home was now in immediate prospect ; yet, 
so endeared had we become by association in 
Libby, and the perils attending our escape, 
that our parting was not without emotion. But 
soon there came to us all glad meetings — the 
embracings and welcomes of loved ones, and 
the cup of our joy was full. I made my 
way to Carrollton, Ky., the residence of my 
brother, the Rev. J. J. Johnston, and soon for- 
got the perils of the past in the joys of the 
present. 

The days of my short furlough of thirty days 
passed rapidly ; another of fifteen days was 
granted, and they, too, I need not say, passed 
sweetly and swiftly away ; for in the first weeks 
of my home life I gave myself up to the de- 



RETURN TO THE FROXT. 131 

licious reveries of Love's voung dreain, and 
changed that dream only for the honeymoon; 
by giving my hand to Miss Annie Xash, in 
whose keeping my heart had long been. 

Furloughs, however, like all things else on 
earth, have an end ; and leaving friends — a 
nearer friend now than ail the rest — my wife — 
behind, I hurried to the front, and joined my 
regiment between Knoxville and Chattanooga, 
a few days before the campaign against At- 
lanta began. My comrades gave me a hearty 
welcome; but there were faces that I missed, 
and well-known voices that I heard not — faces 
that I shall see and voices that I shall hear on 
earth no more. I had been spared amid all 
the dangers and sufferings of captivity ; but 
they, amid the perils of the field and diseases 
of the camp, had gone to their rest. 

On the third of May, one of the loveliest 
days of Spring, Hazen's Brigade, of the Third 
Division, Fourth Army Corps, was encamped 
near Cleveland, on the railroad leading from 



132 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

Chattanooga to Knoxville. Early in the day 
orders were received for a forward move ; 
camps were broken up ; all surplus baggage 
sent to the rear ; the troops put in light march- 
ing; order, one wao;on onlv beins: allowed to 
each regiment, which was to transport officers' 
baggage and ten days' forage for the team. 
Thus prepared, at twelve o'clock, M., the assem- 
lly was sounded, -which was soon succeeded by 
the forivard^ at which time the First Brigade 
moved on, full of glee and cheerfulness, as if on 
the way to some high festival, instead of the 
field of danger and of death. In a few mo- 
ments the S:cond Brigade, with its distinguished 
and gallant leader, Ilazen, at its head, moved 
on with that elasticity and precision of step 
so characteristic of that command, with .the 
watchword, " On to Atlanta !" upon every lip. 
0, it was a grand sight to behold an army of 
veterans, whose courage had been proved on 
many a well-fought field, under the eye of brave 
and vigilant leaders, with banners frayed and torn 



RETURN TO THE FRONT. 133 

in many a deadly struggle, under the cheering 
notes of the sounding bugle and the inspira- 
tion of past success, marching on to dangers 
greater and fields more glorious than those al- 
ready won. The day was warm and the march 
long, and when night overtook us Ave camped 
in an open field, wrapped up in our blankets, 
our only tent the arch of blue, with its glorious 
stars above. 

On the morning of the fourth the boys 
sprang up at dawn, took their 006*00, and were 
soon ready for the day's march. At six, A. M., 
the signal to advance rang from the bugles, 
and the whole command moved forward, but 
with more caution than on the previous day ; 
our advance-guard had come up with the en- 
emy's pickets, and shght skirmishing continued 
nearly the whole day. We camped that night 
near the Catoosa Springs, on the dirt road 
leading to Tunnel Hill, advanced our pickets, 
and established our lines within a short dis- 
tance of the outposts of the enemy. 



134 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

We remained in camp till the morning of 
the seventh, during -VN'hich time some picket 
firing viSiS kept up, with but little damage 
to either side. At five o'clock, on the morn- 
ing of the seventh, our baggage having been 
further reduced and the surplus sent back to 
Ringgold, our line moved for^vard, the Sixth 
Kentucky in the rear, having been on picket 
the night before. Our advance-guard soon came 
in contact with the enemy's skirmishers, wlio 
were driven back as far as Tunnel Hill, when, 
being reenforced, they formed in line of battle 
and awaited our approach. We did not per- 
mit them to wait long ; and as our advance 
moved upon them they opened a heavy fire 
v\'ith artillery and musketry ; but finding that 
they were being flanked on the right by a 
part of the First Division of the Fourth Army 
Corps — the Ninth Indiana, I think — they re- 
tired in great confusion from their line of 
works on the top of the hill. 

We gained the hill about one o'clock, P. M. ; 



RETURN TO THE FRONT. 135 

and durincr the evenin^i; a brisk cannonadincr 
was kept up along our lines against some of 
the enemy, who could be seen across the valley 
at the base of Rocky Face Mountaiuj and in 
the road leading to Buzzard Roost. Our pick- 
ets were stationed at the foot of Tunnel Hill, 
while the Fourth Army Corps camped on its 
summit — and the rest was all the sweeter for 
the toils and dangers of the day. 

On the next morning all was calm and beau- 
tiful, and many of us desired that this quiet, 
which so well became the Sabbath, would con- 
tinue through the day ; but war is stern work ; 
we had only to look before us in order to 
see the enemy and their intrenchments upon 
the summit of Rocky Face. About nine, A. M., 
our line was formed for a forward movement, 
which commenced half an hour later — the 
Sixth Kentucky in the front line. In a few 
moments the Second Brigade had descended 
Tunnel Hill, and were rapidly crossing the val- 
ley toward Rocky Face. Our advance was re- 



136 CAMPAIGN AGADJST ATLANtA. 

sisted, and soon the quiet of the Sabbath wat 
broken by the sounds of battle. We steadily 
drove the foe across the valley, and camped for 
the night at the foot of Rocky Face, the enemy 
occupying the hights above in rifle range of 
our camp. The evening passed Avith but little 
firing, and when night came our boys gathered 
around the camp-fires as cheerful as if our 
march were but a pleasure excursion, till the 
tattoo reminded them of rest needed after the 
toils of the day, and necessary to prepare them 
for the conflict of the morrow. Pickets were 
posted on the mountain-side to watch the move- 
ments of the enemy w^hile the army slept; but 
as soon as day began to dawn the sleepers w^re 
aroused by quick, sharp reports from the rifles 
of the rebel sharp-shooters; their fire called 
forth corresponding activity on the part of our 
men, who fired on them with great effect. At 
eight o'clock, A. M., the Sixth Kentucky ad- 
vanced as skirmishers ; and passing up the 
mountain-side drove the enemy into the first 



KETURN TO THE FRONT. 137 

line of their works upon its summit; which line 
it would have been madness to attempt to 
storm, as it was a strong position by nature, 
and so well fortified in addition that a single 
line would be amply sufiicient to keep an army 
in check. Our brigade, however, held its ad- 
vanced position till late in the evening, when 
it retired slowly and in good order to the foot 
of the mountain, where we encamped for the 
night. We lost several men during the day, 
and next morning were so annoyed by sharp- 
shooters that we were compelled to move our 
camp to a more secure place across the valley, 
near the base of Tunnel Hill. Here we re- 
mained till the afternoon of the eleventh, dur- 
ing]: which time constant cannonadino; and active 
skirmishing was going on, and matters now 
began to assume an exciting appearance ; a 
heavy rain fell that day, which made the move- 
ment of troops very disagreeable. 

In the mean time Sherman, with his flanking 
columns, was hard at work ; and on the night 



138 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

of the twelfth the enemy were compelled to 
evacuate Rocky Face and Dalton, and pursuit 
of the retreating foe began the next' morning. 
We marched six miles south of Dalton, and 
went into camp for the night. Early next 
morning our line of battle was formed, and the 
enemy were reported to be awaiting us about 
three miles from where we stood. Our column 
moved forward at nine, A. M., and at eleven 
our advance-guard came up with the rebel skir- 
mishers, who fell back slowly till half-past one, 
when a general engagement ensued, which 
lasted till night, and resulted in driving the 
enemv into his main line of works in front of 
Resaca. As usual, the Sixth Kentucky held 
the front rank in the line of battle. During 
^the day our brigade captured a number of pris- 
oners, among them a rebel colonel, and the 
night was spent in throwing up breast-works, 
within close rifle range of the enemy's intrench- 
ments. On the morning of the 15th skirmish- 
ing commenced, and continued during the day; 



RETURN TO THE FRONT. 139 

at times there was considerable artillery firing, 
with but little effect, however, on either side. 
In the afternoon a charge was made on the 
rebel works by the Second Brigade, which was 
repelled, with heavy loss on our part. This 
charge was considered a blunder ; it Avas led by 
the Colonel of the Fifth Kentucky — a brave 
man and a good officer. Both men and officers 
acted nobly in the affair; yet it was a bloody 
and fruitless attempt to break the rebel lines 
without assailing their flanks, and should never 
have been made by a single brigade. It Avas 
understood that Gen. Hazen did not favor the 
movement. Who was in fault may never be 
known ; yet nearly all felt " that some one had 
blundered;" but wherever the fault may be, it 
was not with the Second Brigade. That night 
was one of great and unusual excitement ; the 
enemy evidently was in motion, and thought to 
be meditating mischief. At one time the im- 
pression was that he was advancing upon our 
camp, and our men stood to their arms — and, 



140 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

to tell the truth, some were fearful ; they 
could fight in daylight, but were somewhat 
nervous with regard to a night attack. Morn- 
ing came, and the commotion of the previous 
night proved to be caused by the enemy aban- 
doning his strong position, and seeking, if not 
a stronger, at least a safer one further south. 
We learned then, but, alas ! too late, that all 
the advantages which we gained might have 
been secured without the loss of the brave men 
of the Second Brigade ; for if compelled to 
abandon his position after repulsing our attack, 
he would most certainly have done so had no 
assault been made. We pursued as soon as we 
learned of the enemy's flight; but were unable 
to come up with him, and went into camp six 
miles south of Resaca. 

The town of Rpsaca is situated on the south 
side of the Oostanaula River, is surrounded by 
strong natural defenses, and had been ren- 
dered almost impregnable, perhaps entirely so 
to any army but ours, by admirably-constructed 



RETURN TO THE FRONT. 141 

fortifications ; but Sherman is such a great 
fellow for the flanks, or, as the Georgians say, 
" for coming at them endways," that the army 
of Johnston was compelled to retire from posi- 
tion to position, till it was only necessary for us 
to advance in order to insure his retreat. He 
may be a good general, and unquestionably held 
some strong positions; but it is now quite evi- 
dent that a better o-eneral was in his rear. 



142 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 



CHAPTER X. 

ON TO ATLANTA! 

Confidence in our leader — Tunnel Ilill and Reeky Fa^e 
Mountain — Pursuit of the enemy — Johnston's strategy — Tn 
command of my regiment — Battle near Dallas — Night on t'le 
battle-field — Loss of an officer — Reflections. 

With some slight reverses our march up to 
this time was that of a victorious army, ai-d 
the temporary checks we had met Avith only 
served to make us more vigilant for the fu- 
ture. We had the utmost confidence in our 
leader, which was justified by almost daily suc- 
cesses ; while that of the rebels in their chief 
was daily becoming weaker, in consequence of 
his faihng to make good his promises by a suc- 
cessful stand. -And, indeed, when we gained 
the works which he time after time abandoned, 
we could not but wonder at the policy which 



ON TO Atlanta! 143 

led to the abandonment of works and positions 
which we felt we could have held against any 
army that could have been brought against us. 
In our southward march we were able to un- 
derstand how it was that the first Napoleon 
was able to lead an army across the hitherto 
impassable Alps — it was by infusing into 
every soldier his own inflexible purpose; the 
same power is possessed in a high degree by 
Gen. Sherman ; his soldiers think themselves 
able to execute whatever he commands. 

We began our march with the cry, " On to 
Atlanta ! Tunnel Hill and Rocky Face Mount- 
ain, deemed impregnable, are already ours ! 
Resaca has fallen into our hands; and there 
are no difficulties to be surmounted greater 
than those we have already overcome. Cheer 
up, cheer up, boys ! Atlanta shall soon be 



ours 



With such feelings as those just expressed, 
on the morning of the 17th our army moved 
on in its conquering march, the men all in 



14'4 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

fine spirits, and confident of victory when- 
ever the enemy would hazard a general en- 
gagement. We passed through Calhoun ai 
eleven, A. M. — skirmishing began about three 
in the afternoon. We drove the enemy steadily 
as far as Adairsville, Avhere they had a strong 
line of works. We began to throw up intrench- 
ments to protect us during the night; the 
rebels began to shell us furiously while thus 
engaged; but failing to get the proper range, 
they did us no harm — our boys laughing glee- 
fully and working zealously as the missiles 
went shrieking over their heads. We expected 
hot work in the morning ; but when we avroke 
all was quiet, and we soon made the discovery 
that the enemy had departed during the night. 
Our hnes were advanced; we entered Adairs- 
ville without opposition, and halted there for 
a few hours — moved forward again five or six 
miles, and went into camp for the night. 

At seven o'clock the next morning we re- 
sumed our march, and reached Kingston at ten, 



ON TO Atlanta! 145 

A. M., where we rested an hour or two — the 
enemy still retreating, hotly pursued, however, 
by our ad^'ance, which had constant skirmish- 
ing; with their rear-o;uard. 

About one o'clock the enemy made a stand, 
and our artillery opened upon their line of 
battle, which was drawn up, apparently in force, 
in an open field. Our own lines being com- 
pleted, we advanced upon them and took some 
prisoners, and drove them till night brought 
an end to our operations, having during the 
day driven them past Cassville, and compelled 
them to take refuge within a strong line of 
works, where it was reported that they in- 
tended to make a final stand. This intelligence 
was received with great satisfaction by our 
boys, who began to think that the enemy's 
strategy was to tire them to death by running 
after them, and many of them preferred fight- 
ing to marching. The Sixth Kentucky was 
thrown forward into the advance line, where 
they erected temporary works and spent the 



146 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

night on picket, expecting a battle with the 
coming light. Day came, but no battle ; for, 
somewhat to our astonishment, after the reports 
we had heard, Mr. Johnston, as our boys termed 
the rebel chief, had again executed a night 
movement, for which he had already become 
famous — and will you believe it, reader, many 
were greatly disappointed because there was 
to be no fighting that day ? We remained here 
two days to rest and replenish our haversacks, 
as rations had been brought up for a further 
advance. Our boys enjoyed the rest greatly — 
especially as they had begun to regard the 
campaign as a race rather than a conflict, 
and many were the jests at the expense of 
our fleet-footed foe, and a general, whose drum- 
mer-boys could not say, like the Scotch bag- 
piper, when asked to play a retreat, '' thai 
he had never learned to play ihatJ^ 

Up to this time my company had been act- 
ing as Provost Guard at head-quarters, in ac- 
cordance with the expressed wish of Gen. 



ON TO Atlanta! 147 

Hazen; but in consequence of some changes 
in the regiment, I was sent back to it, with 
my company, and placed in command; and as 
this was by order of my brigade commander, 
Gen. Hazen, under whose eye I had been so 
long, I could not but esteem it as a great honor ; 
and if I had any ambition to gain the praise 
of the good and the brave, it most certainly 
was gratified ly an oflScial paper, from which 
the following i ; an extract : " Capt. Johnston 
has always pert^rmed duty efficiently ; has been 
in all the battle^^ of the army till captured at 
Chickamauga ; h ) was shot through and left 
for dead at Shiluh. He was, with one excep- 
tion, the most active officer in preparing for, 
and effecting the escape of a large number of 
officers recently from Libby Prison." These, 
and other words still more complimentary, were 
signed, " W. B. Hazen, Brig. -Gen. ;" and it 
would be affectation in me to say that I was 
not gratified by the approval of this noble gen 
tleman and good soldier. 



148 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

Previous to the commencement of the cam- 
paign Gen. Hazen had consolidated his brig- 
ade into four battalions, each composed of two 
regiments — each of which, when on the march 
and in battle, was commanded by the senior 
officer of the two regiments. The Twenty- 
Third Kentucky and the Sixth Kentucky were 
together, and commanded by Lieut.-Col. Foy. 
Being now in command of the regiment, I 
shall not attempt the task of giving a full 
history of the operations of the army during 
the remainder of the campaign; but content 
myself w4th those matters which came under 
my own eye, in which my own command was 
concerned. 

In obedience to orders, on the 23d of May 
we broke up our camp before Cassville, and 
resumed our march southward. The day was 
very warm, the marching heavy, and we were glad 
to go into camp, about nine o'clock at night, 
in a most beautiful country, about five miles 
south of the Etowah River. Next morning 



ON TO ATLANTA ! 149 

we moved forward and reached the Allatoona 
Mountains at midday. We rested long enough 
to make our coffee, then ascended the mountains 
and camped on the top. Heavy rains fell dur- 
ing the night; the Sixth Kentucky went on 
picket, and was not relieved till eleven o'clock 
the next day, at which time the assembli/ was 
sounded, and the column, on account of the 
bad roads, moved slowly forward till about 
six o'clock in the evening, when the sound of 
cannon was heard, denoting that there was 
fighting ahead. Our march during the day, 
though slow, was a pleasant one ; the rain of 
the previous night had cooled the air, the 
scenery was varied and romantic, and little 
met our eyes that was suggestive of the terrible 
ravaf2;es of Avar. But our thoun;hts were soon 
diverted from the quiet beauty of the woods 
and the majestic grandeur of the mountains, 
by tl\e dread sounds of distant battle. The 
sounds came from Hooker's Corps, which was in 
the advance of the flanking movement ; and 



150 CAMPAiaN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

from the cool and tried valor of its veterans, 
we were prepared to hear of a desperate strug- 
gle and fearful carnage. It was even so; this 
army corps, on its way to Dallas, was met 
by the enemy in force, and a heavy battle en- 
sued. Hooker suffered greatly ; but the steady 
valor of his men enabled him to hold the field. 
Our column had orders to push forward ; and, 
through rain and mud, on we pressed till 
near midnight, meeting on our march sad evi- 
dences of the fio;ht — the ambulance and wao^ou 
trains, filled w^ith wounded, on their way to 
the rear, from which, ever and anon, came 
cries of pain and agony that could not be re- 
pressed. We were wet and weary when w^e 
received orders to halt, and we lay down in 
our wet clothing and slept the remainder of 
the night upon the battle-field, amid the dead 
and the dying who had fallen in the evenmg's 
conflict ; yet the thought, I doubt not, passed 
through many a mind ere slumber came — may 
I not to-morrow night be like many of those 



ON TO Atlanta! 151 

around me who sleep that sleep which knows 
no waking? Soldiers are generally gay and 
thoughtless, even in the midst of danger; but 
they have also their serious moments, and the 
lightest heart feels sad in the solemn night on 
the battle-field thickly bestrewn with the dead. 
At four in the morning we rose, expecting a 
hard day's work ; for picket firing was kept up 
all night, and increased after daylight. At 
seven o'clock we were in line of battle — the 
Sixth Kentucky in front. Companies D and F 
were thrown forward as skirmishers, while the 
rest of the regiment was building breast-works, 
and ^\hile thus engaged suffered considerably 
from the enemy's sharp-shooters. Selecting a 
number of the best shots in my command, I as- 
signed them the task of silencing them, which 
was soon accomplished. At one o'clock the 
whole regiment advanced, driving the enemy's 
skirmishers within their works, and established 
our own lines in close rifle range of them, and 
during the night, by dint of hard labor, we in- 



152 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

trenched ourselves securely. During the even- 
ing, Avhile on the skirmish line, and occupying 
the extreme left, we were threatened by the 
rebel cavalry, against which I sent a few men 
under the charge of a lieutenant, and dispatched 
a messenger to Gen. Hazen, notifying him of 
my condition. On his way back the messenger 
was wounded by a rebel sharp-shooter, and was 
taken to the rear; but the message he was bear- 
ing was brought to me — it was, that Gen. Scho- 
field's command would soon join me on the 
left, and that I must hold my advanced posi- 
tion till he made his appearance, which I 
did till near sundown, when the Twenty-Third 
Corps came up, and ray weary flankers were 
relieved. 

Early on the morning of the 27th the regi- 
ment was relieved from duty on the front line, 
and moved back a short distance to rest, which 
was greatly needed ; and while preparing some 
coffee, a man belonging to the battery was 
wounded. Lieut. William Furr, myself, and 



Oy TO ATLA^'TA. 153 

two others, were placing the Troiinded man 
in a litter, and while thus engaged Lieut. Furr 
received a wound which in a few days proved 
fatal. He was a brave man and good officer, 
and his loss was much regretted. Such inci- 
dents are the frequent and sad episodes in a 
soldier's life, and make an impression deep and 
lastin^r — the very danc^ers and toils throun;h 
which thev pass bind them together with 
a power only understood by those who have 
been pa;'takers of this fellowship of suffering. 
The soldier often seems gay and light-hearted 
in immediate prospect of a battle ; and I have 
seen a regiment express as much joy when 
the loud guns announced the approach of a 
fierce conflict, as school-boys would at an un- 
expected vacation ; and yet those same men 
will at other times be as tender and tear- 
ful as women. "When they look down the 
Hues, thinned in mauy a battle ; or, by the 
nightly camp-fire, talk of comrades gone ; or 
wrap in his overcoat or blanket the remains of 



154 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

one Tvho has borne i^'ith them the fatigues of 
the march or the perils of the fight, and make 
his grave in a land of strangers, the bosom 
heaves, the tears fall, and every look and tone 
proclaims that under the soldier's garb a true 
human heart is beatinoj still. 



MARCHING AND FIGHTING. 155 



CHAPTER XI. 

MARCHING AND FIGHTING. 

Reminder to the reader — Sherman, Howard, and Thomas in 
council — The attack and repulse — The Sixth Kentucky in 
front again — Id the trenches — Guarding train — Forward 
march. 

I MUST remind the reader that I did not set 
out with the intention of giving a history of the 
grand campaign in which I took a humble 
part — a task of such magnitude and respons- 
ibility must be reserved for the future historian 
of one of the greatest and most complicated 
struggles that the world has witnessed. Indeed, 
the thoughtful reader, a thousand miles from 
the scene of strife, may have a better concep- 
tion of a great battle than many of those en- 
gaged in it. The former, by the aid of maps, 
and the accounts given by various writers who 



156 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

beheld the different parts of the great strug- 
gle, may get a good general idea of it as a 
whole ; while he who takes part in it, of ne- 
cessity, sees only that portion of the battle 
in which he is engaged — and that generally 
is but a small part. Moreover, he is prone 
to judge of the result by the success, or suffer- 
ing, of the regiment or brigade with which he 
is connected; while all are aware that a por- 
tion of an army may meet with great disaster 
and yet the general result may be most glo- 
rious; but glorious it certainly does not seem 
to that portion of the army which has suffered 
most severely, although its suffering may have 
been the salvation of the rest. For instance, 
the celebrated charge made by Marshal Mac- 
donald against the Austrian center at Wagram ; 
although it turned the day in favor of the 
French army, yet it w^as most disastrous to the 
charging column, which is said to have lost in 
the proportion of ten out of every eleven men 
who composed it, not having as many hundreds 



MARCHINa AND FIGHTING. 157 

in its ranks when the task was achieved as 
it had thousands when the word to charge 
was given. Thus, in some of the battles of 
this campaign, a brigade, and even a division, 
at times suffers terribly, and yet the battle was 
not lost, and the enterprise, as a whole, was 
a splendid success. 

This view of affairs is absolutely necessary 
with regard to some matters in the present 
chapter which it is necessary to mention, as I 
am not attempting a general view of the cam- 
paign, but the part played in it by the brig- 
ade to which I was attached, and more par- 
ticularly by my own regiment; and while 
not writing a history, I am preparing materials 
to be used by others in framing a full and 
perfect account of this truly-wonderful march. 
I write chiefly from what came under my 
own notice — those who were in other scenes 
than those in which I took part will do the 
same ; and the truth must be gathered, not 
from any one account, taken separately, but 



158 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

from all the accounts in the aggregate. If, 
then, I speak of a success, do not think it 
was one achieved by the whole army ; if I 
mention a disaster, let no one think that I re- 
gard the whole army as involved in it ; for sel- 
dom has an expedition of like proportions met 
fewer reverses, or more glorious success. 

About seven o'clock, on the morning of the 
27th of May, a group of oflBcers were assembled 
in front of the Sixth Kentucky, engaged in 
deep and earnest conversation. Although we 
could not hear their words, their looks and 
manners indicated that matters of grave im- 
port were occupying their attention. One of 
the group, though his garb indicated no great 
rank, had the look of one born to command; 
his face lighted up with unmistakable tokens 
of genius as he spoke, and his words seemed 
most convincing. Another had a calm, quiet 
face, with a look that showed great goodness 
of heart; yet he was evidently a good soldier, 
as his empty sleeve showed that he had lost 



MARCHIXG AND FIGHTING. 159 

an arm in defense of liis country's flag. A 
third was a plain, unpretending-looking person- 
age ; yet the lines of determination upon his 
rugged face showed there was, under that 
quiet exterior, an invincible will. They were 
in the order I have described them — Sherman, 
one of the greatest military geniuses of the 
age; Howard, the man without fear and with- 
out reproach; and Thomas, who stood up so 
stoutly at Chickamauga, and many other well- 
fought fields. These, with other general offi- 
cers, were planning the operations of the day ; 
and having decided upon the course to be pur- 
sued, the interview ended, and each one re- 
turned to his respective comm.and. 

I was informed by a member of Gen. How- 
ard's staff that we might look for hot work, as 
a general advance would soon be made upoa 
the rebel works. Our brigade was immediately 
moved about a mile to the left, and formed in 
two lines of battle — the Sixth Kentucky form- 
ing the extreme left of the rear line. At ten 



160 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATL.4NTA. 

o'clock the advance was sounded. With the 
belief that we should engage the enemy at 
once, my orders were to support the regiment 
before me in the front line of battle. Our lines 
advanced slowly, and we had not gone far be- 
fore skirmishing began. But instead of a gen- 
eral engagement, as was expected, it seemed 
more like a brigade drill ; for, as we passed 
over the broken country which was the scene 
of operations, every movement was preceded 
and indicated by Willich's brigade bugles, 
which must have intimated to the enemy what 
we were about. It was soon whispered that 
we were searchinoi; for the enemv's rifrht flank. 
About three o'clock we reached what was 
thought to be the desired point; here the col- 
umn halted till Johnson's Division moved up 
and formed in our rear, making four hnes of 
battle. When we first came up we found a 
picket-post of the enemy established at thai 
point, which was fired upon by our advance 
and driven back, and no enemy was now in 



MARCHING AND FIGHTINa. 161 

View. The " attention " was sounded, all were 
ready in line of battle, and in a moment more 
the order "double-quick" rang out. All moved 
forward ; the front line changed direction to 
the right, while the second line moved forward, 
which soon brought it into the front line of 
battle — the Sixth Kentucky being on the ex- 
treme left, and in the second line of battle, with 
orders to support the front line — which orders 
had not been countermanded. I had not been 
informed that the front line- had been changed ; 
nor could I see, on account of the dense thick- 
ets through which we were moving, that the 
change had been made ; and the first thing that 
apprised me of the change was passing over 
the skirmish line amid a perfect storm of rebel 
bullets, and finding myself and command in the 
front line of battle. On we pressed till we 
came to an open field, on the opposite side 
of which the rebels were strongly posted. 
The riorht of our brio;ade was to cross this 

field, while part of the Twenty-Third Ken- 
11 



162 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

tucky, and the right wing of the Sixth Ken- 
tucky was formed diagonally across it, and the 
left wing of the Sixth was formed front to rear 
to meet a flanking column of the enemy that 
was moving to our rear. This movement on 
the part of the enemy would have been suc- 
cessful had I not at that moment formed my 
left wing so as to return the flanking fire he 
was already pouring into us. The battle now 
raged furiously along our line, and, under a 
murderous fire, the rebels were pressed back to 
their works, our troops following, in some in- 
stances, to within fifteen or twenty paces of the 
intrenchments ; but exposed as they were in an 
open field to the deadly volleys of a protected 
foe, and a fierce fire upon the flanks — shat- 
tered, torn, and bleeding, yet in spirit uncon- 
quered, they fell back to the shelter of the 
woods. Taking a position there, the battle was 
renewed, and an attempt was made on the part 
of the enemy to dislodge them, but the failure 
was most signal. Some idea of the dreadful 



MARCHING AND FIGHTING. 163 

carnage may be formed from the fact, that in a 
space of time nearly as brief as it has takea to 
pen these few lines, our division lost nearly fif- 
teen hundred men. Our division went into the 
fight alone, and was not supported by the di- 
vision formed in its rear. After reaching the 
point of attack the fight was put off two hours ; 
and when it began the enemy had time to mass 
three divisions against one of ours. I am of 
the opinion that had the attack been made at 
once the day would have been ours. 

Great as was our loss, it proved but a barren 
victory to the enemy. We were repulsed, it is 
true, and many of our brave men sealed their de- 
votion to their country with their blood. The 
enemy also lost heavily, and their success was 
due to their greatly-superior numbers ; and 
whatever advantage they gained that day, it 
was not sufficient to check the advance of 
cur army ; for they were soon again on the 
retreat, and our army on the march to vic- 
tory. 



164 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

But I must return to my own commaLd. 
After our repulse I was at the extreme 
left with a few men who were still firin^r, 
when Lieut. Clark, Acting Adjutant, came 
up and told me that the brigade had been 
relieved, and was now assemblin^r at the 
place where the charge began. I knew noth- 
ing of its withdrawal, and replied that he 
must certainly be mistaken. He said there 
was no mistake about it, that all the brig- 
ade colors were at the place he had men- 
tioned — that we were relieved beyond a doubt. 
Still uncertain, I asked, " Where are the 
troops to relieve us? I don't see them; but 
if relieved I will go down to the left, where 
I have some men placed ; and after reliev- 
ing them will go back." Lieut. Clark, who 
is a brave young officer, went with me, and 
told them to go back, as our brigade had 
gone to the rear; and on our way we passed 
the relief, which w\as lying down, and had 
not come to our relief at all — a mere hand- 



MAECHIXG AND FIGHTIXG. 165 

ful of US had remained on the fiehl, and 
the wonder is that we were not captured 
to a man. 

When we reached the brigade we found 
it formed and ready to march to the rear, 
with Gen. Hazen at its head ; but 0, how 
changed! In a few hours it was so cut down 
as to be not larger than a regiment. We 
were moved down to Pumpkin Vine Creek", 
but were not suffered to remain there long, 
being ordered to the front, and to the right of 
where the battle had taken place ; and though 
we had been engaged in skirmish duty nearly 
two days before the battle, we took our place 
in the front, and began building works within 
rifle range of the enemy's hues. 

At this point we remained till the 6th of 
June, during which time nothing took place of 
interest, save the usual picket duty, of which 
our regiment did its full share. Our position, 
however, was very unpleasant on account of the 
heavy rains which fell, and being compelled to 



166 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

lay close in our trenches to shelter ourselves 
from the rebel sharp-shooters, who Avere always 
on the alert. 

On the night of thfe 5th of June the rebels 
evacuated their w^orks in front of us, Gen. 
Sherman having executed another flank move- 
ment Avhich rendered it necessary for them to 
retreat. By sunrise the next morning we ad- 
vanced again over roads rendered very bad by 
the recent rains, and on the next day were de- 
tailed, with the Twenty-Third Kentucky, to 
Carterville, to guard a train down to the army. 
We were absent till the morning of the 10th, 
having marched all the previous night in order 
to get the supplies through as soon as possible. 
When we reached camp we found the army 
ready to march; but it was delayed till two, 
P. M. We then moved forward about three 
miles, and halted for the nio-ht. 



Sherman still flanking. 167 



CHAPTER XII. 

SHERMAN STILL FLANKING. 

Pine Mountain, and death of Gen. Polk — Georgia scenery — 
Before Kenesaw — The unreturning brave — Marietta ours — 
Across the Chattahoochee. 

On the morning of the eleventh all was quiet 
At an early hour we advanced one mile, and 
formed in line of battle in front of the enemy ; 
and no demonstration having been made against 
us, we were withdrawn at night, and went into 
camp till the 14th, during which time nothing 
of interest took place, save the arrival of the 
cars at Big Shanty with rations ; and it made 
all feel better to know that we were not ex- 
pected to march and fight upon empty stom- 
achs. 

At noon on the 14th our division struck 
camp and marched to the left thi^ee miles, 



168 CAMPAIGN AGAIXST ATLANTA. 

formed our line of battle, and remained there 
till the next day. Some skirmishing took 
place in front of Pine Mountain, on which the 
rebel Gen. Polk was killed on the evening of 
the 14th. He was one of the Bishops of the 
Episcopal Church before the war, and possessed 
great influence in the South. In the army he 
had attained the rank of Lieutenant-General, 
and was esteemed an able oflicer. In company 
with some other commanders he had taken a 
position on the mountain to observe our move- 
ments, when one of our batteries opened upon 
them; they withdrew for a time, but curiosity 
drew them back ; and while eni2:ai2:ed in con- 
versation with his companions, a shell struck 
him on the left arm, and passed through his 
chest ; of course he was killed instantly. These 
particulars were obtained from a rebel oflicer 
who fell into our hands a few davs after. 

On the 17th I ascended the mountain, the 
enemy bavins: evacuated it, and visited the 
Bpot where he fell. While there I had a fine 



. SHERMAN STILL FLAXKI^^a•. l6& 

view of Lost and Kenesaw Mountains ; and 
when I looked at their steep sides from which 
their batteries Avere belching shot and shell, it 
really seemed madness to think of attempting 
to make them our own. Others might have 
looked at them with the eye of a tourist ; but 
I looked at them with reference to the diffi- 
culties which they presented to our advance. 
Viewed as mere scenery, they present a grand 
and imposing spectacle ; but I thought of Tun- 
nel Hill and Rocky Face, and the struggle they 
had cost us, and then thought of the lives that 
must be sacrificed before those embattled hights 
which frowned before me could be ours. Mount- 
ains are beautiful, sublime, and all that ; to as- 
cend them with pleasant company and in de- 
lightful weather, and gaze from the summit at 
the lovely landscape below, is full of delight ; 
but we soldiers think of the sheets of flame and 
the storm of bullets through which we must press 
our way before those summits, standing out so 
boldly in the sunlight, can be gained. 



170 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

On the 17th we advanced over two lines of 
rebel works which were evacuated the previous 
night ; but soon were compelled to form in line 
of battle, having come up with the enemy's 
pickets in front of their strong fortifications — 
the Sixth Kentucky in the front line as usual. 
We advanced slowly till nio^ht, drivinc^ the 
skirmishers into their works, and advancing our 
own lines within close range of the enemy's 
rifle pits, and spent most of the night in tlii'ow- 
ing up works to protect ourselves, our position 
being quite an exposed one in an open field. 
Next mornino; the rain beo;an to fall, and con- 
tinned without intermission during the day ; 
this, however, did not prevent constant skir- 
mishing and cannonading. About two o'clock 
the enemy opened a battery which enfiladed 
our line of works, rendering our position rather 
a warm one, notwithstanding the drenching 
rain to which we were exposed. We remained 
here till sundown, and were relieved only to 
take a position still further to the front, where 



SHERMAX STILL FLANKING. 171 

we had to build another hne of ^vorks daring 
the night, in an open field, within close range 
of the rebel sharp-shooters. I do not remem- 
ber ever having known as much rain to fall in 
a single day as on the preceding one ; we had 
been two days in the front line without being 
relieved, and were obliged to cut green corn 
and weeds to keep us out of the mud and 
water of the trenches, when we lay down for a 
few moments' rest. Early next morning our 
skirmishers were thrown forward, who soon re- 
turned and reported that the enemy had left 
during the night; a number of deserters came 
into our lines during the day, and we also cap- 
tured a number of prisoners. 

The enemy were driven that day to their 
works at the foot of Kenesaw Mountain, and 
troops were in motion, and cannonading kept 
up all nifjht. In the mornino' the Sixth Ken- 
tucky was relieved from picket, and formed in 
the front line, working at the intrenchments 
till two o'clock, P. M., having been on picket 



172 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

duty the twenty-four hours previous ; and then, 
wearied as we were with labor on the breast- 
works, were ordered into the front line of 
battle. All this, however, was done cheer- 
fully, and the rebels were driven into their 
rifle pits, and our line of battle established 
within six hundred yards of their w^orks. Here 
we fortified ourselves and remained till the 
second of July, when Kenesaw Mountain was 
evacuated. 

During all that time we had fighting, more 
or less, every day ; our picket lines were 
within seventy-five yards of the enemy's, and 
it was dangerous for a man on either side to 
show his head above the works. Our regiment 
was on picket every other day, as was every 
regiment in our brigade — our lines being weak- 
ened to enable Gen. Sherman to feel the en- 
emy's flanks. 

On the 23d of June Companies H and K 
were on picket, when it was ordered to make a 
demonstration in our front; the line was to 



SHERMAN STILL FLANKING. 173 

idvance at five, P. M., supported by the Ninety- 
Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In obedience 
to orders the advance was made. Capt. Owen 
was in command of the picket ; but before they 
moved I was ordered to send another oflBcer to 
his assistance, and sent Capt. Nierhoff. Our 
boys had scarcely got from behind their works 
when the enemy opened a galling fire upon 
them ; they advanced the line, however, to the 
rifle pits, but with the loss of fifteen men out 
of the thirty-five that were engaged — among 
the killed was Capt. Nierhoff. Company H 
had four killed and eight wounJed ; Company 
K had two w ounded ; the Ninety-Third Ohio 
lost forty- three in killed and wounded. We 
held the position which we had gained at such 
a sacrifice till dark, when our lines were wdth- 
draw^n to their original position. The bravery 
of the men was put to a severe test by this 
movement ; but it was, beyond doubt, ill-ad- 

e 

vised, as every man knew that we were in full 
range of the rebels' main line of works. 



174 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

Several fierce contests took place while we 
were in front of Kenesaw Mountain — one of the 
bloodiest of which took place on our left, the 
sad and sickening traces of which remained till 
the enemy retreated. On the night that the 
enemy evacuated their stronghold, our brigade 
was ordered to reheve some troops on our left, 
and my regiment was placed in the front line, 
so close to the enemy that each party did picket 
duty from the main hne of their respective 
works, which were not more than one hundi'ed 
yards apart. Across this narrow space two 
charges had been made — one by the rebels, the 
other by our men, in each case with severe loss 
to the charging column ; and the intervening 
space was now, several days after the battle, 
thickly strewn with the swollen, disfigured, and 
putrefying bodies of the gallant dead upon the 
very spot where they fell — blue jackets and 
gray all intermingled, all silent and peaceful in 
their last sleep, presenting the saddest spectacle 
I had witnessed amid all the di^eadful scenes of 



SHERMAN STILL FLAXKIXG. 175 

the war. The carnage must have been terrible ; 
but the gray uniforms far outnumbered the 
blue on that sad field of the slain. The reason 
why they were left unburied is said to have 
been the refusal of the rebel officer command- 
ing that part of the line to receive a flag of 
truce — such a wretch deserves neither a sol- 
dier's grave nor a soldier's tear. 

On the 3d of July the army moved in pursuit 
of the retreating foe ; and after marching ten 
miles went into camp near the railroad south 
of Marietta. All was quiet for the first time 
for two weeks. The evacuation of Kenesaw 
threw Marietta into our hands, which was occu- 
pied immediately as a depot for supplies, and 
for the use of our sick and wounded. This is 
said to be one of the most beautiful of South- 
ern cities, the town being well built, and the 
suburbs adorned with dwelling's eminently suo;- 
gestive of comfort within, and they certainly 
are outwardly beautiful. The Georgia Military 
Institute occupies a beautiful and commanding 



176 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

situation south of the town, and the inhabitants 
are a much superior class of people to any ^ve 
had as yet met with in our march through the 
State. 

The scenery in the vicinity possesses the 
great charm of variety — lovely valleys and 
mountains sublime — Kenesaw, Altoolin, and 
Lost Mountains being all in full view. Before 
the war this was quite a manufacturing point. 
Churches and school-houses are more abundant 
than in most portions of the South through 
which I have passed, and I am convinced there 
are also not a few Union men. 

On the morning of the 4th of July our brig- 
ade moved a mile to the left, the enemy being 
near at hand. Line of battle was formed, with 
the Sixth in the front line ; fighting all day, 
the foe before us in force and strongly fortified. 
We held our position till next morning, when it 
was ascertained that Sherman had again suc- 
ceeded in his favorite flank movement, and the 
enemy w^s again forced to leave his strong- 



SHERMAN STILL FLANKING. 17t 

holds and fall back, this time over Chattahoo- 
chee River, into the first lines of his strong 
-works for the defense of Atlanta — only eight 
miles distant. The pursuit then began — my 
regiment in the advance. During the day we 
came up Avitli their rear-guard, had some fight- 
ing, and captured some prisoners, and reached 
the river in time to prevent the rebels from de- 
stroying the bridge over which they crossed 
near Vining's Station. After a little fighting, 
with the river between us, we were ordered to 
fall back and pitch our camp. We remained 
there till the 10th, our pickets on the north 
bank and the rebel pickets on the south. Here 
we stopped five days ; our batteries were located 
at the best points, and the most furious cannon- 
ade that I had yet heard was kept up both day 
and night. The sharp-shooters, too, were busy; 
nor did the rebels permit us to do all the shoot- 
ing with the big guns; but planting their bat- 
teries, they fired with great precision — at one 

time obtaining such a good range on the camp 
12 



178 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

of the Sixth Kentucky as to wound several ot 
my men. At some points on the river some of 
our boys and the " rebs " would get up an armis- 
tice, and gray jackets and blue jackets would 
meet and mingle in the greatest harmony, and 
in an hour or two would be pouring a deadly fire 
into each other's ranks. 

Our next move w^as to the left, and up 
the river, to effect a crossing. We marched 
seven miles, and went into camp. The next 
day we were ordered to cross ; but when we 
reached the river we found the bridge was 
not completed, which delayed us several hours. 
We got over at length, marched about a mile 
and a half, and went into camp. Next morn- 
ing we changed our position, moving forward, 
and to the right, upon an elevated point, upon 
which we soon erected a strong line of works, 
behind which w^e lay till the 17th, when the 
Third Division of the Fourth Army Corps was 
ordered to move down the south side of the 
Chattahoochee as far as Vining's Station, to 



SHERMAN STILL FLANKING. 179 

dislodge the enemy, ^'ho ^'as then in front of 
the Fourteenth Corps, and hold the crossing till 
the pontoons TN^ere laid and the army across. 
This we accomplished without the loss of a man, 
and succeeded also in capturing some prison- 
ers ; and having finished our work, returned 
the same night to our camp. 



180 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

BEFORE ATLANTA. 

Intrenching all night — Gallant exploit of the First and 
Third Brigades — Atlanta in view — In the trenches before the 
city — The Sixth Kentucky ordered to Tennessee — Turning 
over my command — A parting word. 

Early on the morning of the 18th march- 
ing orders were received, and at eight o'clock, 
A. M.. our brigade moved forward over a 
rough road, our advance constantly engaged 
with the pickets of the enemy, who retired 
before them. On reaching the Cross Roads 
we effected a junction with Hooker's Corps, 
and formed in line of battle, the rebels being 
in foice in our front. We went to work and 
threw up intrenchments ; but the position as- 
signed to the Sixth Kentucky did not suit the 
commandino- officer, and we were obho;ed to ad- 



BEFOKE ATLANTA. 181 

vance and erect another line of -works, ^\'hich 
occupied us most of the night. This is a kind 
of Avork under which soldiers often become 
restive ; and, indeed, it is far from agreeable, 
after a hard day's marching and fighting, to 
find, after some hours of toil in throwing up 
works, that the line has been improperly lo- 
cated, that a new one must be chosen, and the 
balance of the night spent in work that might 
have been avoided by a little care in the selec- 
tion of the position. When the second line 
also fails to please, as is sometimes the case, 
the remarks of the soldiers are not very com- 
plimentary to the skill and military sagacity 
of the officer whose blunder has cost them so 
much labor and loss of necessary sleep ; and 

the wish is often expressed that Gen. had 

the selection of the position, as his eye never 
fails to see the proper place at the first 
glance. 

On the morning of the 19th our brigade 
moved to Peach Tree Creek, in support of 



182 CAIVIPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

the First and Third Brigades, while they at- 
tempted to cross the- stream. This they did 
handsomely in the face of a heavy fire, forcing 
the enemy to abandon a strong line of works — 
possessing them so hastily as to capture a lieu- 
tenant-colonel, several line officers, and nearly 
an entire regiment in the trenches. This, in 
high military circles, is regarded as one of the 
most brilliant achievements of the campaign, 
and reflects the highest credit on the noble 
men by whom it was accomplished. 

While the First and Third Brigades were en- 
gaged in converting the rebel works just gained 
by their valor into Federal defenses, our brig- 
ade, under Gen. Hazen, was employed in con- 
structing two bridges for the artillery and wag- 
ons to cross upon. After dark we passed over 
and relieved the troops in the front line, after 
a hard and exciting day's work, which was at 
tended, however, with but little loss. On the 
next day our division was relieved from this 
portion of the line by Newton's Division, of the 



BEFORE ATLANTA. 183 

Fourth Army Corps, and moved some ten 
miles to the left, on the north side of Peach 
Tree Creek, and, for the first time in a long 
while, enjoyed the luxury of a quiet night's 
rest — there being troops in our front, which re- 
lieved us of any fears of a night attack. 

On the 21st we advanced to Peach Tree 
Creek, built a bridge and crossed, soon after 
which we came up with the enemy strongly in- 
trenched. Our column halted, formed line of 
battle, and began throwing up defenses in front. 
This, however, was done under a sharp fire, 
and before our works were completed several 
men of my now greatly-reduced regiment fell. 
We occupied this position till the next day, 
when we found the enemy had decamped, Sher- 
man having rendered such a movement on their 
part a necessity. Gen. Wood ordered us to 
advance at once, adding that we must throw 
out a strong line of skirmishers, move on, and 
stop for nothing vill we had reached Atlanta; 
and had we been able to carry his order out, 



184 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

we should have been ere nightfall possessors of 
the Gate City. There was one difficulcy in the 
way, however — the enemy was unwilling that 
we should do so, and had only left one line 
of works to occupy another stronger one, be- 
hind which they thought themselves more se- 
cure from the encroaching Yankees. I was or- 
dered to move the Sixth forward as skirmishers, 
and did so till we came upon the enemy strongly 
intrenched, and established our picket line in 
close rifle range of the enemy. This position 
I held till our battle line advanced, during 
which time the rebels gave my line a most ter- 
rific shelling ; but this was no novelty to the 
brave boys of the Sixth ; they swerved not for 
a moment, and before the sun went down the 
hne of our brigade was strongly intrenched, our 
batteries in position, and hurling their deadly 
volleys upon the lines of the foe, and upon At- 
lanta itself. 

Now, for the first time since the campaign 
began, the Sixth Kentucky was permitted to 



BEFORE ATLANTA. 185 

rest for a season. Our boys dug pits m the 
ground to protect themselves from the shells 
and minie balls v/hich the enemy distributed 
profusely, vraiting anxiously for the fall of the 
city Avhich had been the object of so much 
labor and suffering, but ^hich seemed to be in 
our grasp at last. Here we remained, with 
but little change in our position, and that an 
advanced one, for over three weeks ; and yet, 
as the fox-hunters say, we were not in at the 
death; for, on the 21st of August, I received 
orders to report the regiment to Gen. Ros- 
seau, at Decherd, Tenn., having been trans- 
ferred from the Fourth Army Corps to the 
Twentieth. 

During the time we were in front of At- 
lanta, we were almost constantly under the 
enemy's fire, both musketry and artillery. Our 
lines were in an open field, while those of the 
rebels were in the timber on the opposite side, 
the pickets from each side being advanced 
into the open field, and at close range, es- 



l86 campaign against ATLANTA. 

pecially after we had driven them from their 
first line of forts and occupied them our- 
selves. 

Though enjoying comparative rest when con- 
trasted with our toils on the march, we were by 
no means idle ; we were engaged in picket duty, 
in building and strengthening our defenses, skir- 
mishing, and making demonstrations against 
the enemy ; and toward the close of our stay, 
when our works were completed, we drilled 
twice a day in an open field, within range of 
rebel sharp-shooters. 

In obedience to General Orders of the War 
Department, I made application for Companies 
A, B, and C to return to the rear preparatory 
to being mustered out of service, as the regi- 
ment will have served three years on the 1st 
of October — and that, too, in the front, from 
Shiloh to the Gate City of the sunny South ; 
but, for want of being mustered at the proper 
time, they will have to serve till the 23d of De- 
cember, 1864. I requested that the remaining 



BEFORE ATLAiS^TA. 187 

beven companies should be sent to Eminence, 
Ky., where they were partly organized, to watch 
after the notorious rebel Jessee, and his gang. 
This, however, was not granted; but, as al- 
ready stated, we were transferred to the Twen- 
tieth Army Corps, to report at Decherd, Tenn. 
On the 23d of August we reached Chattanooga, 
and I turned over the command to an officer 
who certainly did not owe his place in the regi- 
ment to his faithful discharge of duty; for he 
knew little, practically, of the dangers through 
which it had passed, not being with it in the 
campaign in which it had pLayed so distin- 
guished a part. The regiment was drawn up 
in line, and I returned thanks to officers and 
men for the faithful discharge of their duty in 
the campaign against Atlanta, and referred to 
the imperishable record they had made. Cheers 
arose all along the hne; scarcely a man in the 
regiment vras silent; and never shall I forget 
this warm expression of their confidence and 
regard. To my own company, in particular, I 



188 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

feel deeply indebted; to them I o^ve the posi- 
tion I occupied through the most remarkable 
campaign of the -war ; and with them I shall 
remain, if life be spared, till we reach home 
again. The day for our return is not far dis- 
tant; but 0, how few^ of those who started with 
me, nearly three years ago, will return ! Many 
parents will weep over sons, and wives over 
husbands, who will return no more ; but they 
died in a holy cause, and have left a name 
which those who mourn their loss may cherish 
with pride. During the campaign against At- 
lanta alone the regiment lost, in killed and 
\vounded, fifty-eight out of one hundred and 
forty who were engaged; and when mustered 
out the ranks will be thin, the numbers few. 
Not many regiments have seen harder service 
than ours — none have borne themselves more 
nobly ; and I cherish the thought that my little 
book may be useful to the historian of the war 
in Georjiia and Tennessee, as the record of the 
doings of the noble Sixth Kentucky. 



BEFORE ATLANTA. 189 

I regret my inability to give a fall list of the 
losses sustained by the regiment ; a few names, 
however, which now occur I will mention. 
Lieut.-Col. Cotton was killed at the battle of 
Stone River, on the 30th of December, 1862. 
Adjutant Middleton died in the hospital — an ac- 
complished Christian gentleman, and soldier 
brave and true. Orderly-Sergeant W. H. Har- 
per w^as badly wounded at Chickamauga; and 
among the killed of my company were Sergeant 
G. W. Lindsey, James Downs, and John H. 
Hall. On the 24th of December my time, and 
that of my company, will expire ; and I trust, 
ere that day dawns, that bright-winged, dove- 
eyed peace, w^ith the olive twig just plucked off, 
wdll return. But if this may not be, I shall not 
feel that I am discharged from further duty. 
The feeble efforts I have made in my country's 
cause have been made freely ; I regret not the 
wounds I have received, or the cruel imprison- 
ment I have endured ; and if peace, an honor- 
able peace, be not obtained, I am wdUing to pass 



190 CAMPAIGN AGAINST ATLANTA. 

through yet greater perils that my country may 
triumph. That triumph will come at last, I can 
not doubt; the justice of our cause and the 
spirit of our soldiers assures me of this. We 
have met with defeat and disaster on some oc- 
casions, it is true ; yet our cause has ever been 
advancing. We have had many cases of indi- 
vidual suffering, and yet those who have suf- 
fered most have never despaired. Amid the 
privation and starvation of Libby Prison I never 
found any who regretted the part they had 
taken in this struggle, or who for a moment 
doubted the glorious result. As Paul and 
Silas sang praises at midnight in the re- 
cesses of the Philippian jail, so did they 
nobly bear all they suffered, sustained by the^ 
firm conviction that the cause in which they had 
periled all was a just one, and would prevail at 
last. 

And now, reader, we must part; and if I 
have awakened in your breast a stronger sympa- 
thy for the soldier in the field, and the captive 



BEFORE ATLANTA. 191 

in prison, we have not met in vain. Should 
peace speedily come, you may conclude that I 
have turned the sword into the plowshare; 
but if the war must go on, you may safely con- 
clude that I am a soldier for the Union still. 



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